After the Blues' big victory against Japan, Saturday November 9 at the Stade de France (52-12), find the favorites and favorites of L'Indépendant.
We liked
The “bleusaille” match
It is in this type of encounter that we can score points. Or potentially lose some. This match against Japan was an opportunity for the staff of the French XV to play some young players. Théo Attissogbe replaced Damian Penaud at short notice, who was ill before the match, and produced a solid performance, playing a lot on his support and speed. Emilien Gailleton, holder in the center, was very present in defense. With 12 tackles, he was very present. And he prevented the Japanese from restarting. And as a bonus, he got his second try in Blue. Even though he has 12 caps, Louis Bielle-Biarrey is still at the beginning of his history with the XV of France. On Saturday, the Bordeaux player was overflowing with talent by offering himself two tries on counter-attacks that he launched himself. We could even add Roumat and Meafou to the list, who are older, but who have very few selections. They were also excellent on Saturday.
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Rugby: “The game we proposed resembles our roadmap.” After the victory against Japan, find the reactions of Fabien Galthié and Antoine Dupont
The entrance to Boudehent
He seems to have passed Charles Ollivon in the staff hierarchy. Paul Boudehent returned quite early in the match to replace Thibaut Flament, injured half an hour into the game. Installed on the third line, while Cros moved up a notch, he immediately weighed on the game. Powerful, hypereffective in defense, with 19 tackles in less than an hour (3rd best performance of the match behind Mauvaka, 24 and Alldritt, 23), he was very efficient. He also scored a double in the second half, each time in force, coming out of the ruck just in front of the line. These are his first two tries in Blues. Very successful with La Rochelle, Boudehent, who celebrated his 12th selection on Saturday, is getting closer and closer to the top level. And even in a hyper-competitive third line, it is not impossible that we find him starting in one of the next two matches.
Also read:
Rugby – French XV: before the Blacks, the Blues treat themselves to a health walk against Japan
Rediscovered offensive ambition
It's never easy to get back into rhythm for a team that hasn't played together in a while. During the 2024 Tournament, the Blues had difficulty setting up their game. During the tour in Argentina, the large squad review, with many young people, and the circumstances after the Jégou-Auradou affair did not allow to learn a lot of lessons. But on Saturday, against Japan, we found the French team for the 2022 Grand Slam and that for the World Cup (before the match against South Africa). The principles of dispossession, advocated by Fabien Galthié, worked wonderfully and the Blues with the power of the pack and a very aggressive defense enjoyed counterattacking.
We didn't like
Japan's performance
How far Japan is from the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. On Saturday, Eddie Jones' men, who have definitely had a series of complicated experiences for several years, simply did not exist. They suffered in all areas of the game and were not able to offer play. And if they scored two tries, it is more linked to a little relaxation in the French in the second half. Since the World Cup, Japan took 52 points against England in June, 42 against Italy in July, 64 against New Zealand three weeks ago and 52 again on Saturday at the Stade de France. And this summer, they even lost against… Georgia. The period is complicated for the country of the Rising Sun. Today, the Japanese are no longer up to par.
