The Cardiff Millennium, a “wonderful stadium” which takes to the guts and “gives goosebumps”. It is in this setting, set by the coach of the Blues Fabien Galthié, that the XV of France advances towards a fourth “final” in as many matches. After overthrowing Italy, Ireland, then Scotland, Antoine Dupont’s teammates hope to crunch Wales on Friday March 11 (9 p.m. to follow on France 2 and francet.tv). A success, during this fourth day of the Six Nations Tournament, would bring them a little closer to the final title and a Grand Slam, which has eluded them since 2010.
Opposite dynamics
They are at least as cautious as confident. Undefeated, the Habs dream of winning the crown won last year by their opponent of the day, the Welsh. For their part, the defending champions, deprived of many executives (injuries, Covid) since the start of the Tournament, are in fifth place with two defeats in three games. Wayne Pivac’s players first fell in Ireland (29-7) where the addition could have been more salty if the Clover XV had not narrowly missed. They then resumed their colors by dominating Scotland (20-17) before falling to England (23-19) in a match weighed down by faults and clumsiness.
“The word that comes to mind is respect. This team has won the Tournament four times in the last ten years and that has not been the case with the XV of France.”
Raphaël Ibanez, general manager of the Bluesduring the announcement of the composition of the XV of France on Wednesday
Despite diametrically different forms in this 2022 Tournament, and a definite advantage for the Blues, the XV of France does not want to skip the stages.
The Covid enters the dance
So far, the XV of France had managed to slalom rather easily between the drops. Admittedly, the preparation of certain players, in particular Toulouse, had been slightly delayed due to the Covid-19, but, in the end, only the coach of the Blues had to forfeit a match. Fabien Galthié had experienced his team’s entry into the running against Italy in front of his television, phone in hand to communicate in real time with his assistants.
This time, it was the players who were caught by the patrol. Facing Wales, the Blues will have to do without the canes and ardor of winger Damian Penaud and the physical density of second-line Romain Taofifenua. “Since the start of the Tournament, the players have been tested at each new meeting. We know how things are going at the moment in our society and we are prepared for it”, confided the manager of the Blues, Raphaël Ibanez, on Wednesday. “We are a group that must be complementary anytime, anywhere. The guys who come back are more than ready”supported Fabien Galthié.
In such circumstances, the hybrid profiles particularly appreciated by the staff of the XV of France like Cameron Woki (third-row moved to the second-row) or Thomas Ramos (able to cover the positions of back and opener) will necessarily be precious.
Supremacy in the air and rucks
Unlike previous meetings, the Blues have decided to rely on a bench with five forwards (Mauvaka, Gros, Haouas, Flament, Cretin) one less than usual and three backs (Lucu, Ramos, Lebel). A detail that is perhaps not one. In a match where the physical confrontation in the rucks is one of the keys, the absence of Romain Taofifenua could weigh.
The Blues whose objective was “to arrive fresh” at the end of the Tournament, as Thibault Giroud, performance director, explained on Tuesday, have caused a sensation in the exercise so far. After suffocating Ireland – excuse me a bit – they disgusted Scotland with their energy the previous day. The Leek XV on the contrary appeared feverish during the defeat in England (23-19).
Faced with a player like Dan Biggar and his mammoth kick, dangerous high balls are likely to rain down on the Millennium. The rear of the Blues, Melvyn Jaminet, in difficulty against the poles and jostled in the air at Murrayfield, will once again be called upon and scrutinized. “It’s not something that weighs on his shoulders alone, defense is teamwork. The support needs to be better”wanted to put Fabien Galthié into perspective.
The wind as icy as swirling had also had a role to play. He could also come back to bother the Perpignan and his cronies. “The roof of the stadium will remain open in relation to sanitary conditions, we will have to manage all that, the public and perhaps a little rain”added Raphaël Ibanez.
Match history
Wales is a successful team in Fabien Galthié’s XV de France: it remains on three victories in three games, including one at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on February 22, 2020 (23-27). Don’t expect a walk in the park though. The two XVs offer often tight duels, the conclusion of which is decided in the last minutes. For example, the Blues won by two points last year (32-30), when the previous generation fell by one point in the quarter-finals of the Japanese World Cup in October 2019 (20-19) and during the 2018 Six Nations on Welsh soil (14-13).
If Wales have won ten of their last eleven games in Cardiff, the irreducible XV of France is the last to have overthrown it.