Beware of missteps. Yes, France have won two games against Italy in 2022. Yes, France have fought for the title until the end to last Six Nations Tournament (finally won by England) when Italy only finished in fifth place. Yes, France is aiming for an eighth World Cup semi-final in nine participations while Italy had never reached the knockout phase so far.
But if the Bleues are favorites against the Transalpines before their clash in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, Saturday October 29 in Whangerei, it is the outsiders who leave with a psychological advantage.
First-time quarter-finalists!
A day to treasure for @federugby #JPNvITA | #RWC2021 pic.twitter.com/OfkkGJvvsS
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 23, 2022
Blame it on not-so-distant antecedents. Before flying to the World Cup, the French challenged the Azures three times this year, without ever convincing. Already in March, the XV of France had been heckled during the Tournament despite a flattering score (39-6), before the two games in September left a much more bitter touch. First a sluggish victory in Nice during the first round (21-0), then a surprise defeat in Biella (26-19). What definitively record the bad pass of the Blue with a year 2022 in halftone in the game.
“We necessarily think about it because we lost the last time against them. But the challenge is not so much to take revenge as to show that we have rebuilt ourselves since.”
Céline Ferer, second line of the XV of Franceat a press conference
Before what the French coach, Thomas Darracq, considers to be a “beautiful”Saturday, France was not really reassured. During their three group matches at the World Cup, the Bleues have alternated between the good – like their defensive solidity against England – and the less good, characterized by their inability to chain tries against opponents who more modest (South Africa, Fiji).
A very different dynamic from that of Italy, which raises mountains in New Zealand. Although they lost to Canada in Pool B (22-12), the teamAndrea Di Giandomenico reached the quarter-finals by beating the United States (22-10) and Japan (21-8). A historical qualification for transalpine rugby which had never reached this phase in the World Cup, men and women alike.
Italy eager to challenge Les Bleues #RWC2021 | #FRAvITA pic.twitter.com/DmN0XBd0KW
— Rugby World Cup (@RugbyWorldCupFR) October 27, 2022
“Italy has had significant progress in recent monthsrightly noted Thomas Darracq at a press conference on Wednesday. It’s a team that knows us well, with a lot of players playing in France. Their way of playing is very similar to ours in the desire to animate, in the forms of play.”
This is the reason why the coach bet on his typical team after rotating against Fiji (44-0). Apart from the absences of Laure Sansus, package for the rest of the competition, and Romane Ménager, who is recovering from a concussion, the coach has made only one tactical change compared to the meeting against England. Captain Gaëlle Hermet, on rest since the start of the competition, will regain his place in the third wing line.
The composition for the 1/4 final of the World Cup!
To be continued on @TF1 #RWC2021 #FRAITA #XVdeFrance pic.twitter.com/MKWFcFPWee
– France Rugby (@FranceRugby) October 26, 2022
“We wanted to put the most competitive team to oppose Italy’s playing profile, a playful team, with a lot of dynamismexplained the tricolor coach. We know how to block them well, as we did in Nice, but we also know how we were surprised in Biella.”
That’s good, compared to the revamped team beaten in September, only eight players will start. A first positive point before this big test against the Italians. To finally erase everything that was lacking in 2022 and allow ourselves to aim higher, with perhaps an appointment against the New Zealanders in the semi-finals.