For the first match of its autumn tour, the XV of France largely dominated Japan on Saturday evening at the Stade de France. Good preparation before welcoming the Blacks in a week.
It was reunion night. First there were those with the Stade de France where the Blues had not played in Saint-Denis since the sad evening of October 15, 2023 and the defeat, in the quarter-final of the World Cup against South Africa. South. After a 2024 VI Nations Tournament far from Paris, due to preparation of the venue for the Olympic Games, the XV of France regained possession of its main residence, Saturday evening, against Japan. It was also the return to the Blues of Antoine Dupont. He had not worn his number 9 flocked with the rooster since the World Cup. But the Stade de France saw him win Olympic sevens gold last summer.
Obviously, of the three meetings of this fall tour, the match against Japan was clearly not the biggest piece. It will be much more complicated next week against the All Blacks and in two weeks against Argentina. But it was a good opportunity for the Blues to find their feet again.
The Blues public was still happy to find its players, with many executives and a few new faces, including Tevita Tatafu, who celebrated his first as right pillar. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, author of a double, Emilien Gailleton and Alexandre Roumat, they already have a few caps (12, 3, and 5). But in a team that still exudes experience, they look a bit like rookies. And against the Japanese who allowed themselves to be permanently trapped by French counterattacks, they had a blast. And in 30 minutes they had completed a meeting which, already, on paper, did not offer immense suspense. Then, the executives had a great time. Mauvaka, before the break, then Gros from the restart, showed Boudehent the way, twice, to bring the total score to 8 tries. And the 12 points left to the Japanese in the second period (tries from Tatekawa and Tatafu) are not really worrying.
Looking towards New Zealand
So beyond the score, which doesn't mean much, what to remember for the future? That the ingredients for success are all there. In the game, the Blues did not need much time to adapt. They rediscovered, in just a few minutes, the principles of dispossession which were wreaking havoc before the World Cup. The physical power of the tricolor pack, carried by a mobile and devastating Meafou on contact and a sharp first line, worked wonders. And the defense, clean and aggressive and applied, did not give the Japanese a single chance. There was no lack of concentration, which can happen in these kinds of matches. The staff's strategic choice to play Ramos at the opening and Barré at the back proved effective.
It was all there. It was what was needed to prepare for the arrival of the All Blacks in a week. An opponent of another caliber, who has just won in England and especially in Ireland, Friday evening, which is never trivial. After a difficult summer, Scott Robertson's men are doing much better this fall. And they would like to treat themselves to the Blues. For Fabien Gathié, Antoine Dupont and the entire fifteen of France, it will be a different story. They know it. But they are ready.
