Moribund for a year and the immense disillusionment of the elimination of the 2023 World Cup in France, the Blues needed a boost to move forward. Beyond just the result, the stunning scenario of this victory against New Zealand (30-29) includes all the elements of a new starting point…
The victory of the XV of France against New Zealand (30-29), this Saturday at the Stade de France, contains a thousand things within it and its rickety scenario: the anxiety of the first period, seeing the Blues so disrupted by the All Blacks back at the top level thanks to their power-speed couple ( collective execution, in particular, with qualities of offensive support which sometimes suffocated the XV of France over the long sequences); these flashes of Bielle-Biarrey to split the opposing rearguard, this determination of Boudehent or Gros to stem the waves and finallythis match which reverses after the break.
The Blues suffered, they even gave in but never broke. Before doing what they do best: rebel, refuse a form of fate that seemed to impose itself on everyone and turn this evening into the irrational. Until the last breath, the last drop of sweat, the last heartbeat.
Anger, rage: the perfect scenario
This breathtaking scenario, well beyond the balance sheet (third consecutive victory against New Zealand), is surely what the Blues needed most to finally look ahead. Because, yes, the ghosts of the past still haunted the walls of the CNR Marcoussis.
For a year, there were promises, about the last World Cup quarter-final lost by a small point, at home against South Africa (28-29). That it was digested, forgotten, accepted. A bandage of denial on a gaping wound that the last failed 6 Nations Tournament had not been able to soothe, nor the Argentine tour polluted by business. A pain that is always present, as coach Fabien Galthié eventually recognized. “Thomas Ramos m’a dit : “When we saw the images, it hurt us”. The players had not done this work of acceptance, of overcoming, of digestion.”
And then? We say to ourselves that it is now a done deal, since Saturday and this very special victory. That beyond the result and the tactical analyses, this success against New Zealand includes everything that the Blues deeply needed: a mountain to overthrow; a strong emotional moment, a real one, which required them to draw from the depths of their resources, despite the blows of fate (injuries) and an adversity which for a long time seemed superior to them. Swearing to themselves that they could do it, proving to themselves that they were going to do it. This anger, this rage and this refusal of defeat, until these last agonizing minutes. “A scenario like this gives a lot of joy.” smiled Antoine Dupont after the final whistle. “We held our line, we defended well and felt like we could count on each other. It's a very exhilarating feeling. It was very strong when the final whistle blew.”
All this is excellent for confidence and for the future. It is precisely the extra soul that evaporated on that deadly evening of the 2023 World Cup, a little over a year ago. Finally, it's behind. Finally, we look ahead.
Argentina, a trap like that
Ahead is obviously the 2025 6 Nations Tournament and, further on, the World Cup in Australia (2027). Before, from next week, there will be Argentina. To validate this exceptional success against New Zealand and definitively switch to the right side of their history, the Blues will still have to triumph over these Pumas next Friday. A trap-like match, almost too big to be true.
First, there is the adversary. Argentina does not have the same aura as the All Blacks, it clearly instills less fear but, this summer, she just brought down New Zealand at home (38-30)in addition to having paid the head of Australia and the South African world champions. There will therefore be plenty of talent on the Argentinian side.
There is also this undeniable element of freshness. To close this sequence of three international matches, the French will benefit from one less day of recovery than their opponent, beaten by nothing the day before (Friday evening) on Ireland's field (22-19)another giant of this game. Next week for the Blues should therefore be mainly devoted to regeneration, to try to close the gap.
This will not be a luxury, when we know that with the many players already injured and absent (Baille, Atonio, Cros, Ntamack, Depoortere, Penaud…), we will have to deal with new elements affected, this Saturday against New Zealand (crutch for Tatafu, concussion protocols for Taofifenua and Boudehent). Fortunately, with victory and a smile, we often recover much better…
