Present in the French XV since the summer of 2023, Paul Boudehent took on a new dimension during the first two matches in November, symbol of the renewal which is taking shape in the third line.
First there are the most striking figures: two tries against Japan and one against New Zealand, the best scorer for the Blues this fall with Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
The La Rochelle player benefits more than the arrow of the Union Bordeaux-Bègles from the teamwork of the forwards, as on the victorious maul against the All Blacks, but he also gives off an impression of power, notably on the two tries scored by pushing the Japanese line close to the goal.
And beyond the tries, the third row is one of the rare ones to have held up for the entire match against New Zealand, including when the Blues suffered during the first period. And even against the twirling Ardie Savea. He would have played the entire match without an exit for concussion protocol, ultimately negative, around the 70th minute.
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“I am happy with my feelings but especially for the group,” he commented in the mixed zone, also speaking of the “pride” to be found for the northern hemisphere, generally dominated during the first matches of November.
The player began to make his mark in the French XV, with 13 caps since his first against Scotland in the first of the preparation matches for the World Cup in August 2023. This preparation allowed him to secure a place in the 33 finally selected and to play the first three matches of the World Cup.
He then played at the ends of the match during the Six Nations Tournament, also with 80 minutes against Italy.
“The off-season, with the digestion of the Tournament and the World Cup, allowed him to take a step forward in his understanding, his determination,” greeted coach Fabien Galthié before the match against New Zealand, offering him his first start against a big name in rugby.
Disturbed hierarchy
This allows him to shake up the hierarchy established in the French XV in the third line for several years, with the triplet Charles Ollivon, Grégory Alldritt, François Cros. Together, they have nearly 120 caps and the first two have already been named captain of the selection.
But on the ground, they seem less sovereign in the eyes of many observers, including the first Fabien Galthié. In November, Charles Ollivon, 31, was not on the scoresheet against Japan and started on the bench against New Zealand, where he made a good entry with his near scratch from the goal to the hour mark.
Starting in the first two matches, Gregory Alldritt, 27, did not have the impact of recent seasons and came off before the 50th minute of play against the Blacks.
François Cros, 30, suffered a concussion after half an hour of play against Japan and returned to the group on Monday for Argentina.
Toulouse’s Anthony Jelonch, 29 caps, saw his progress cut short by two serious injuries and, although he is selected at Marcoussis, has not yet found the match sheet.
These glitches, which forced hooker Peato Mauvaka on the field to twice make the incongruous reinforcement in the third row, leave room not only for Paul Boudehent but also for other third rows such as Toulouse’s Alexandre Roumat, who also benefits from his qualities and his role on the sidelines.
And behind, other players are pushing, notably with UBB, with Marko Gazzotti, Pierre Bochaton or Temo Matiu, still without selection but called to Marcoussis this week.
