The XV of France will try, Saturday at the Stade de France against England, to achieve the tenth Grand Slam in its history in the Tournament, the fourth since the enlargement to six nations with the entry of Italy in 2000. What were the nine Grand Slams of the Blues?
9. 2010 – Until the end of the suspense
- Trainer: Marc Lievremont, assisted by Emile Ntamack and Didier Retière
- Captain: Thierry Dusautoir
- Results: France beat Scotland (18-9), Ireland (33-10), Wales (26-20), Italy (46-20) and England (12-10).
- The course : After an almost perfect course, and players who impress with their mastery, the title is played as often, during the last day, by the inevitable “Crunch”, which sees France win 12 to 10, thanks to three penalties from Morgan Parra and a drop from François Trinh-Duc, all scored before half-time. Jonny Wilkinson, who started the game on the bench, scored the 12-10 penalty in the 67th minute, reducing the score, but the XV de la Rose failed to find the fault afterwards.
- The players : Morgan Parra, at the opening, scored a total of 61 points while Mathieu Bastareaud, Yannick Jauzion and David Marty each scored two tries. Frédéric Michalak and Imanol Harinordoquy are celebrating their third personal Grand Slam.
8. 2004 – Crescendo
- Trainer: Bernard Laporte, assisted by Jacques Brunel, Bernard Viviès and David Ellis
- Captain: Fabien Pelous
- Results: France beat Ireland (35-17), Italy (25-0), Wales (29-22), Scotland (31-0) and England (24-21)
- The course : The XV of France, a few months after its elimination in the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup by England, won the Grand Slam after an uneven course. Realistic (35-17) but somewhat jostled in conquest against Ireland, the French imposed themselves without convincing against Italy (25-0), an old refrain, before suffering martyrdom in Wales to maintain a advance acquired in the first period. The French then dismissed without great difficulty (31-0) the Scottish obstacle in Edinburgh before offering themselves (24-21) a beautiful final against world champion England, with a first period close to perfection.
- The players : the French built their success on an invariable front five (De Villiers, Servat, Marconnet, Papé, Pelous) to offer a fourth Grand Slam to Fabien Pelous and Olivier Magne, a personal record still in force in the French camp. The three-quarter line rests on the pair of centers Jauzion-Traille and the scrum-half stand out: Jean-Baptiste Elissalde scores 24 points in Cardiff and Dimitri Yachvili confirms his status as executioner of the English (20 pts). Imanol Harinordoquy finished co-top scorer in the competition with four tries.
7. 2002 – Miracle in Cardiff
- Trainer: Bernard Laporte, assisted by Jacques Brunel, Bernard Viviès and David Ellis
- Captains : Olivier Magne (1 match), Raphaël Ibanez (1 match), Fabien Galthié (3 matches)
- Results: France beat Italy (33-12), Wales (37-33), England (20-15), Scotland (22-10) and Ireland (44-5)
- The course : Slow against Italy, beaten (33-12) in the first match, the XV of France is saved by two interventions of the video referee, in the last minutes, before winning in Wales (37 -33). In the process, the French realize a perfect match on the tactical level against England (20-15). They complete the Tournament in apotheosis against Ireland (44-5).
- The players : The XV of France relies on a very solid first line (Crenca-Ibanez-De Villiers) to achieve the first Grand Slam since the Tournament was extended to a sixth team, Italy, in 2000. In the third line, the Coach Bernard Laporte combines Serge Betsen’s qualities as a defender, the dexterity of beginner Imanol Harinordoquy and the speed of Olivier Magne. The center Tony Marsh is the guide of the back lines, led by Gérald Merceron, best director of the Tournament with 80 points.
6. 1998 – The Big Game
- Coaches: Jean-Claude Skrela and Pierre Villepreux
- Captain: Raphael Ibanez
- Results: France beats England (24-17), Scotland (51-16), Ireland (18-16) and Wales (51-0)
- The course : Three months after a traumatic defeat against South Africa (52-10) on November 22 at the Parc des Princes, the XV of France won the first match in its history at the Stade de France, against England (24- 17). Launched on the way to total rugby, the French made two memorable demonstrations, in Scotland (51-16), and against Wales (51-0) at Wembley.
- The players : A young captain, Raphaël Ibanez, 24 years old, 6 selections, takes up the challenge of reconstruction at the start of the Tournament. The unbridled game, advocated by the Skrela-Villepreux duo, highlights the talent of Olivier Magne. Thomas Castaignède, placed at the opening, illuminates the game with his talent, while Christophe Dominici bursts on a wing.
5. 1997 – The Twickenham hit
- Coaches: Jean-Claude Skrela and Pierre Villepreux
- Captain: Abdelatif Benazzi
- Results: France beat Ireland (32-15), Wales (27-22), England (23-20) and Scotland (47-20)
- The course : Winner in Ireland then against Wales, the XV of France “plays” the final victory in England. Led (6-20) after 52 minutes, the French are on the verge of implosion, but they make a sumptuous end to the match, to win (23-20). Two weeks later, Scotland was swept away (47-20) for the last match of the Tournament at the Parc des Princes.
- The players : Christophe Lamaison, already crowned European champion with Brive, is the man of the year 1997. His success inspires the XV of France, where the old ones, like Olivier Merle, rub shoulders with a newcomer, named Olivier Magne.
4. 1987 – The spirit of Nantes
- Trainer: Jacques Fouroux
- Captain: Daniel Dubroca
- Results: France beat Wales (16-9), England (19-15), Scotland (28-22), and Ireland (19-13)
- The course : Without outclassing their opponents, the French won their first three matches. They encounter great difficulties to win in Ireland, thanks in particular to two tries from the third row Eric Champ.
- The players : Jacques Fouroux relies on the winning group of the All Blacks in Nantes on November 15, 1986. He has built an ultra-solid pack, behind a first iron line: Ondarts-Dubroca-Garuet. The XV of France also relies on the science of Pierre Berbizier and the talent of the players in the back lines, including Franck Mesnel, Denis Charvet, Philippe Sella and Serge Blanco, as well as winger Eric Bonneval, author of five tries in four matches.
3. 1981 – Odds and Ends
- Trainer: Jacques Fouroux
- Captain: Jean Pierre Rives
- Results: France beats Scotland (16-9), Ireland (19-13), Wales (19-15) and England (16-12)
- The course : The XV of France narrowly won in its first three matches, before creating a sensation by winning in England, against the team of Bill Beaumont, author of the Grand Slam in 1980.
- The players : Coach Jacques Fouroux manages a perfect mix between brave warriors (Dospital, Dintrans, Paparemborde, Imbernon, Joinel), an exemplary captain (Rives), young people full of talent (Berbizier, Blanco), a reliable scorer (Guy Laporte) and two creatives (Codorniou, Pardo).
2. 1977 – Fifteen men and no try conceded
- Trainer: Jean (aka “Toto”) Desclaux
- Captain: Jacques Fouroux
- Results: France beat Wales (16-9), England (4-3), Scotland (23-3) and Ireland (15-6)
- The course : The XV of France, which relies on an iron pack, breaks the hegemony of Wales, before winning against England at Twickenham, thanks in particular to the bankruptcy of English striker Hignell. The end of the Tournament, facing Scotland and Ireland, is more peaceful.
- The players : Unique fact, the XV of France, commanded by Jacques Fouroux, has not conceded any try in four matches. Above all, the same fifteen players played all four meetings. The “fifteen” of 1977, including Gérard Cholley, Jean-Pierre Rives, Jean-Claude Skrela, remained very united. They are at the origin of the creation of the French Barbarians, who exert a very great influence on French rugby.
1. 1968 – A great first
- Captain: Christian Carrere
- Results: France beat Scotland (8-6), Ireland (16-6), England (14-9), and Wales (14-9)
- The course : Deprived of the Grand Slam the previous year by Scotland, the XV of France took their revenge by winning at Murrayfield, before achieving the first clear round in their history.
- The players : 27 players took part in the adventure. Only winger André Campaes, third lines Christian Carrère and Walter Spanghero, as well as second line Elie Cester played the four matches. The brothers Guy and Lilian Camberabero also played a big role in the campaign of the XV of France.