They moved, shivered and sweated once more. Before breathing, once more and once more, and exulting in the Cardiff night. Winner of a padlocked game, Friday March 11, in Wales (13-9) – its fourth victory in a row in the Six Nations Tournament – the XV of France opens the doors to a grand slam which will fled since 2010. A victory, Saturday March 19 (9 p.m.), once morest England will ensure the coronation of Fabien Galthié’s men.
But this part “our hardest match of the Tournament, by its progress”, according to second row Paul Willemse, looked nothing like the Blues’ previous outings. In the light suit that enveloped them since the start of the competition, the Tricolores preferred the blue of heating. “It wasn’t the best match we’ve played.recognized Captain Antoine Dupont. But you have to know how to win like that too. » A Welsh victory, “a pragmatic team that scores points with crumbs”.
Under the finally clement sky of Cardiff – the promised rain stopped at the beginning of the evening -, the Blues hardly granted crumbs to the always defending champions, revengeful and usually imperial at home.
Two years ago, their poaching in Welsh lands (27-23 victory) was an epiphany. “This victory gave a boost to the construction of our project”, insisted this week Laurent Labit, the coach of the tricolor attack. The Blues had left the Welsh capital convinced that they might beat any opponent, at the end of a disputed meeting at ground level. A pleasant preamble to the “chess game” – the words of opener Romain Ntamack – who expected the French on Friday.
As usual since the fall of 2021 and their benchmark victory once morest the All Blacks (40-25), the Blues got off to a flying start. Aggressive, but respectful of the rules, and inspired, the teammates of full-back Melvyn Jaminet quickly took the lead, rewarded with a try from third row François Cros. “But we had a hard time following up”, conceded Antoine Dupont. A flash, then pain.
A “better prepared” campaign
“We spent most of the time in our camp having to defend, it meant that we had to tackle more than usual, and it’s hardnoted Paul Willemse. But luckily, I love it! » In an incessant fight punctuated by wild impacts and the meticulous paws of opener Dan Biggar – a candlelit dinner revisited for the French rearguard – the Blues have never been disunited (as evidenced by their 93% of successful tackles).
You have 59.77% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.
