With four victories in four matches, the Blues signed their best group stage in the World Cup in twenty years. A great success, while certain questions accompanied each of their meetings.
What if the greatest strength of this French team lay in its ability to brush aside all hesitations and always respond? Qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Cup after their big victory against Italy (60-7) in Lyon, the Blues concluded their group stage with a successful performance, after two weeks of debates and predictions around the fate that awaited them.
A final symbolic performance of the French adventure so far on its land. For almost a month in the group stage, since the beginning of September, this XV of France has charted its course overcoming obstacles. “We are very happy to have succeeded in this match, to have succeeded in our qualifying phase, overall to have succeeded in our last four years and to remain aligned with our objectives”coach Fabien Galthié philosophized at a press conference in the aisles of Groupama Stadium.
Fears swept away and good reactions
Because the history of the XV of France in this World Cup started in an atmosphere of excitement and celebration, but tinged with apprehension. It must be said that the opening match against the formidable All Blacks, tyrants of world rugby with their impressive record of 100% victories in the group stage, was a tough start. Doubt remained about the Blues’ ability to be there nervously and mentally. But after a tight match, they struck a big blow and brought down the triple world champions (27-13). “The victory was very difficult to achieve, but the way the team performed is very promising for the next two weeks”Raphaël Ibanez then predicted.
After a very difficult match and a sluggish victory (27-13) against Uruguay, this time it was the subject of involvement at the start of the match which found itself in the spotlight. The Blues had just been picked up cold and conceded the first try in the first ten minutes for the second game in a row. A week later, modest Namibia served as the ideal opponent to set the record straight: a record victory (96-0) and a successful start to the match (two tries scored in the first nine minutes). An improvement confirmed against Italy this Friday evening, with a success acquired in the first period by a fifteen who started strong. “O“We wanted to be front-on, have a lot of intensity, have good releases, that was the key word in the locker room before the start of the match.”welcomed Captain Charles Ollivon.
One last match managed despite the Dupont case
The Blues never gave up, until the latest hesitation, the one that everyone would have done without, after the injury to Antoine Dupont against Namibia: can this team succeed in its decisive round of 16 without his captain? A qualification without trembling, eight tries and sixty points passed to Italy later, Charles Ollivon and his men provided the answer. On the pitch at Groupama Stadium, the absence of the best player in the world in 2021 was not felt. “The contract was fulfilled, it was a joy, we had a lot of pressure for two days”recognized Maxime Lucu at the microphone of TF1 after the meeting.
There is no chance, and this constant adaptation is reflected in the figures. With four victories, 18 points on the clock and a first place acquired, the French XV has just completed its best group campaign in a World Cup for twenty years and the 2003 edition (four victories and twenty points). Picky optimists will even note an improvement in the balance sheet in attack and defense (a little more points scored and half as many points conceded). Before entering the final phase, the lights are green and this French team seems ready to face anything that stands in its way.