the favorites and the favorites of our special correspondents

FAVORITE

The big eight of the Blues

The start of the school year is a success. A year after the disappointment suffered against the Springboks in the quarter-final of «to» World Cup, the XV of France strolled in its garden in Saint-Denis. With eight tries and a match folded in the first half (31-0). “I'm not sure we'll score eight tries in the coming matches, but it looks like our roadmap, what we're looking for in the rotation,” appreciates Fabien Galthié. The promises of a new offensive, focused on the outside and with more ball possession (no more “dispossession” !), began to flower this Saturday. Antoine Dupont retains the positive: “We were pragmatic at the start of the match, we played turnover balls. We all had an appetite, the desire to send out the game. There was a bit of waste, but the copy was positive, obviously.” However, it is difficult to draw real lessons as the level of this Japan was very low. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, particularly prominent and author of a double, knows full well that the step will be higher against the All Blacks next Saturday: “With the new refereeing guidelines, we have a game that is more focused on the offensive. We changed our game system a little bit in attack and defense. We did pretty well against Japan but it will have to be even better in a week because it will be a step above. We won’t have as many chances next week.”

The spectacular pre-match ceremony

For the return of the Blues to the Stade de France, the FFR has developed a vibrant scenography to launch the meeting. A light and pyrotechnic show that was eye-catching. First, on the big screen, a finally animated presentation of the players. Then flames, lasers, while the enclosure plunges into darkness and lights up in blue-white-red. A big cloud of white smoke for the entrance of the gladiators. Spotlight on the players at anthem time. It was grand and spectacular. Not sure that it will be as lively and vibrant, next Thursday, for France-Israel football under maximum tension…

Mauvaka was everywhere for 80 minutes

The Toulousain's XXL performance is even more remarkable given the hazards. A match started at his usual position of hooker. Then a last half hour in the third row. And 80 minutes on the meadow. Without a drop in speed. Peato Mauvaka scored a try on a trickster combination in touch with his captain, Antoine Dupont. He almost scored a second in the winger position. “But he didn’t want to score”laughed Dupont. Above all, he accomplished a titanic job. Best tackler of the match (24); 55 meters covered with ball in hand (best total for a forward); three defenders beaten, 2 crossings. An almost flawless copy (6 missed tackles) which earned him the praise of his coach. “He is very, very fit! We see it in training. He’s a very good performance leader for us.”greeted Fabien Galthié, admitting that he would like his teammates “are inspired by it” in terms of athletic performance.

Also read
XV of France: in video, all the attempts of the Blues during the demonstration against Japan

CLAW STRIKES

Suffer less, be more disciplined

When debriefing this great success, the Blues were in agreement on one point: everything was not perfect and we will quickly have to iron out a few problems before challenging the All Blacks last Saturday. “We had waste, we are not satisfied with everything we produced either”confirmed Fabien Galthié. Among the points to review: discipline. In a match that they dominated head and shoulders, Antoine Dupont and his team were sanctioned 11 times, which is not enormous at the international level, but, on the other hand, the Japanese were not. only 7 times. The Blues did not have the advantage of possession (46% against 54%) and therefore had to struggle in defense (234 tackles against 106 for the opponents). Against the New Zealanders, we will not have to suffer as much, the damage will be much greater. “We will have to defend less,” confirms Alexandre Roumat, “because against one of the best teams in the world, it will not be easy…”

Japan, setting sun

A very low level. In 2015, the Japanese created a surprise at the World Cup in England by defeating South Africa. Four years later, the Brave Blossoms confirmed their rise to power by qualifying for the quarter-finals for the first time, after beating Ireland and Scotland. A rise in power which has not been confirmed… The current generation of the Japanese XV displayed enormous shortcomings at the Stade de France. Swept at the entrance and submerged for 80 minutes. “In the first half, we exploded against the physical power of France. We could not face their power,” could only see the Japanese coach Eddie Jones. For his return to the land of the Rising Sun, the former England mentor announced that he wanted to raise his team “in the top 4 in the world” by the 2027 World Cup. The work seems enormous. Or even impossible. “This team is young, and now we have to improve physically,” continues Eddie Jones. It's not just the physique that the Japanese must improve if they want to compete with the best…

There were no people at the reunion

Certainly, the poster was not the most prestigious. But one could think that after 391 days spent away from the Stade de France – due to the Olympics, the Blues have played three times in the provinces since the cursed quarter-final of the World Cup – that the spectators would be eager to see the Blues again , to admire Antoine Dupont who, too, was making his return. But there was no “what” 50,000 spectators for this reunion. According to the comments of supporters on social networks, the pricing policy of the FFR, which did not offer discounted prices for this match against Japan, overcame the envy of some. Although the third level was closed, for reasons of economy, that did not prevent those present from creating an atmosphere in the stadium. Lots of encouragement, thousands of little tricolor flags frantically waving. The audience sang, applauded, had fun. And the party was still there. “I was waiting for this moment, it was nice to see the public again, the Stade de France with a match like that. We can't wait to see you next week», appreciated Antoine Dupont.