Fabien Galthié made a strong choice at the start of this autumn tour by associating Thomas Ramos with Antoine Dupont in managing the game, which proves the coach right so far. This duo has already been at work in major meetings with Toulouse and has only been beaten once in twenty-three matches when it has been lined up. It works wonders and will be expected again this Friday evening. The proof through some figures.
20 victories in a row for this duo
Antoine Dupont and Thomas Ramos often repeat that they are used to playing together at the hinge, even if this duo was aligned for the first time in the France team during this fall tour. At Stade Toulouse, many options exist at the hinge with the presence of Romain Ntamack or the versatility of Juan Cruz Mallia. But, if Ramos regularly happened to be moved to the opening during the match, the two actually found themselves in charge on multiple occasions from the start as well. So much so that, this Friday evening against Argentina, they will celebrate their twenty-fourth association (at the kick-off of a match). The first dates back to December 23, 2018 in Clermont in Top 14, for a draw at the finish. But the results of this turning point are quite exceptional: twenty-one victories, one draw and… only one defeat. It was January 12, 2019, at Leinster (13-29), in the Champions Cup group stage. Since then, she has simply had twenty successes in a row! However, she was often at work in major events: six times on the “European” scene, or even in the Top 14 final in 2019 and 2021.
6 assists in two matches
To say that the two playing leaders of the French XV were essential, on the first two outings of the autumn tour, is now obvious. But their influence on the collective is also reflected through certain significant figures. “Thomas and Antoine have this ability to quickly see spaces”said Louis Bielle-Biarrey in these columns on Monday. And the duo has undeniably benefited their partners, since the hinge has already made six assists out of the eleven tries scored by the Blues in this month of November. Antoine Dupont – who has already averaged an incredible 1.24 assists per match last season – delivered two against Japan (for Mauvaka and Gros), while Thomas Ramos has four in the two matches (two for Louis Bielle-Biarrey, one for Émilien Gailleton and one for Romain Buros). Above all, the Toulouse flyhalf or fullback allowed himself to bring out the full range to serve his teammates: uncrossed kick, deep field kick, jump pass and high serve.
Olympic noon. – Patrick Derewiany.
87.5% success for Ramos on this tour
Thomas Ramos is a huge scorer, unanimously recognized as one of the best on the international scene today. Until then, no one learns anything. But his foot success is extremely valuable on this fall tour. Author of an honest six out of eight against Japan, the opener stood out above all with a 100% against the posts against New Zealand (six out of six). And when we know that the Blues only won by one point… Last Saturday, he had some difficult kicks to convert, with a first penalty more than fifty meters away or two corner conversions. On this November episode, he is currently at 87.5% success, which still places him at very high standards. Beyond that, he reached 364 points with the French team, making him the sixth best director in history. If he is only 72 lengths from first place held by Frédéric Michalak (436), this Friday he could overtake Thierry Lacroix (367), Morgan Parra (370), Dimitri Yachvili (373), or even Christophe Lamaison (380).
Olympic noon. – Patrick Derewiany.
160 minutes played by Ramos
While his history with the XV of France was long thwarted, Thomas Ramos has established himself as a key player for the Blues since November 2022. Since then, his status has only thickened and his influence grown. Today, and even more so in the absence of Romain Ntamack, he is considered the conductor of the Tricolores in the eyes of Fabien Galthié and his deputies, who even made him join the group of leaders since the 6 Nations Tournament 2024, and one of the main guarantors of the gaming system. And this is demonstrated by a statistic which is not insignificant. Aware that it was necessary to maintain fitness levels and monitor the playing time of each player since the start of the season, the staff sought to regenerate their squad. Before this third match of the tour, only three players played the first two matches in their entirety: Alexandre Roumat, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and… Thomas Ramos. This proves the capital importance of the latter on the ground. Knowing that Roumat will not start this Friday…
12 kicking games per match for Dupont
If the two friends of the hinge easily share the strategic roles on the field, and beyond that complement each other perfectly, it must be recognized that Antoine Dupont – as he does with Romain Ntamack in the selection elsewhere – is responsible for the majority of the kicking game (excluding penalties obviously). His length, as much as his ability to be effective with both feet, pushes the staff to ask him to take his responsibilities in this sector, particularly behind the rucks, to relieve his opener and above all to avoid the risk of a counter who could turn out to be a murderer. Which is decisive. Thus, the scrum half kicked twelve times against Japan, then as many times against New Zealand (even if, to be nitpicky, it is worth noting that he sometimes lacked precision on certain outings camp during this match). Alongside him, Ramos was the author of an average of seven kicks in running play per game (five fewer than his teammate).
9 defenders beaten by Dupont
If he is ultra-monitored by his opponents who fear him more than any other player on the field (which very regularly offers comfort and opportunities to his teammates since he concentrates the defenses, as Thomas recently pointed out Ramos), Antoine Dupont nonetheless retains extraordinary individual qualities. His priority now remains to play around him, to energize when releasing the ball when the situation requires it or to delay, or even relieve, when necessary, therefore to constantly serve a collective of which he is the boss. But that doesn’t stop him from taking advantage of even the slightest breach to showcase his talent and play a few duels with diabolical efficiency. In the last two matches, he beat no less than nine opposing defenders (as many as the Louis Bielle-Biarrey arrow!) and covered 109 meters with the ball in his hands. Rather frightening statistics for a number 9 to whom, it must be repeated, we leave very little space from now on.
