After an extremely complicated 6 Nations Tournament, including a historic defeat and draw against Ireland and Italy respectively, the French XV finds its best enemy in England. The opportunity for the Blues to finish on a good note at Groupama Stadium in Lyon this Saturday (9 p.m.), but above all for Fabien Galthié to save his record.
The French supporters undoubtedly expected a completely different XV of France, after the disillusionment of the last World Cup. But their hopes were dampened from the first meeting, with theIreland who inflicted a real slap in the face Grégory Damn it and his teammates (17-38), who then followed up with a controversial victory against theScotland (16-20) and a draw againstItaly (13-13).
Rugby – 6 Nations: Wales-Italy, towards a historic feat? pic.twitter.com/rNjsfcC3be
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France must avoid zero points at home
Last week’s improved victory on the pitch Principality Stadium from Cardiff (24-45) gave some smiles, but the real challenge arrives this Saturday. THE Groupama Stadium of Lyon will indeed host the highly anticipated Crunchenter here France and theEngland. And a single victory over the great English enemy could erase all the criticism for Fabien Galthié! Otherwise, the result could be catastrophic with zero home victories, which would be a first for the XV of France since the establishment of 6 Nations Tournamentin 2000.
England finally rises from its ashes?
Be careful, however, with this Englandwho achieved a real feat at home in Twickenham last week, beating a Ireland that everyone thought was invincible (23-22)! Moreover, the men of Steve Borthwick remain on a historic defeat at home against the XV of France in the 6 Nations (10-53) and they will undoubtedly want to wash away this affront. For this, the coach of the XV of the Rose notably decided to make the captain permanent George Ford at the opening rather than the wisp Marcus Smith, which announces a hell of a trench fight and a desire to occupy the ground on foot this Saturday. For the rest, all the heroes of the last match are there with the impressive second line George Martinbut above all a third line which is not in the lace with Ben Earl et Sam Underhill.