“If there were keys to beating England I think it would be known”, smiles Annick Hayraud, the manager of the Blue two days of the expected shock. Make no mistake about it, the XV of France intends to scramble to find the recipe and overthrow the world’s first nation, Saturday April 30, in a match which will offer the winners the victory of the Six Nations Tournament and the Grand Slam.
Facing a team that they have not beaten for four years, the challenge is real for Les Bleues who want “make an impression”in the words of Annick Hayraud, before the World Cup next October. “We have to have confidence in ourselves, we have the possibility of beating them”, immediately adds the boss of the Blue. But then how to beat a team that has been invincible for 22 games and against which Les Bleues remain on 9 consecutive defeats?
A game to win ahead
Yes the adage surely seems easy, see boat, but what do you want, it is above all in front that a rugby match is won. It is not for nothing that the bosses of the Blues, Annick Hayraud and Thomas Darracq, like our consultant and former international Marie Sempéré, have stressed the importance of the fight to hope to overthrow the Red Roses. “Until now, the English have martyred everyone on scrum and carried ball and, given the line-up of the Blues, we clearly want to respond to them and we have the means. There is power, big tackles. The replacing Ferer in the third line will be important to have another option in touch”analyzes Marie Sempéré.
”With the English it’s always the same scenario. As soon as they have the opportunity to play a penalty in the opposing camp, they attempt it and throw a carried ball to score. It’s a way to reassure yourself. If we jostle them in this sector, we can mark them psychologically.
Marie Sempéré, former international and consultant for France Télévisionsat franceinfo: sport
The presence of Audrey Forlani or Céline Ferer responds to a “willingness to densify” the pack, as confirmed by the sports manager of Les Bleues, Thomas Darracq. “There was also an aerial balance to be found. We know that the English conquest is effective, we want to fight in all aspects of the game. We made the choice to have a powerful first line, keeping our rapids and our wisps on the bench to best balance this match and maintain a certain intensity throughout the game”he continues.
Flaws on the exterior?
Once the frontal duel has started and the defense is tighter, the Blues will have every interest in sending the ball to the wing. “The English have extraordinary backs, but they don’t spread the game much. Faced with teams capable of keeping the ball and playing on the outside, they have more difficulties, we can take them on that”announces Marie Sempéré.
In the exercise, the role of the Sansus-Drouin hinge will be essential. “Caroline’s return is going to be precious (absent in the last two matches)she is used to this kind of high-stakes match and she is an excellent manager”supports the former international. “We know that she is a player who can defend very strongly, who has a lot of hand and a very interesting foot game. She is complete in her technical panoply”, adds Annick Hayraud. Whether it is necessary to go through the foot, laser passes or engage ball in hand in the slightest flaw, one like the other can bring danger at all times. With her six achievements, Laure Sansus is also the best try scorer for Les Bleues.
For Marie Sempéré, the presence of Chloé Jacquet (7 selections, 2 tries since the start of the Tournament) at the back, is also a real plus to overwhelm the English defense. “With her experience of the 7, we know that she can intervene anywhere on the field. We saw it with her recovery against the Welsh with Sansus, she is someone who takes initiatives, she needs very little effort. “space to make a difference. She feels the blows, especially on the short sides. It’s an area where you can really surprise the English.”
A constancy to find
But are the Blues “capable of offering a performance of high physical, technical and concentration intensity for 80 minutes”, asks Marie Sempéré. This is perhaps the great unknown of the meeting. Because if Gaëlle Hermet’s teammates have inflicted heavy defeats on Italy, Ireland, Scotland and then Wales, they have never managed to present such successful content as during the autumn tour. .
”It promises a big defensive game where there will surely not be much of a gap. The two teams will go blow for blow. We will need an airtight defense, occupying the pitches properly and taking the points as soon as they arise.
Thomas Darracq, sports manager of the Bleuesat the pre-match press conference
Fallen balls, forwards, late supporters, tacklers sanctioned, clumsiness has, until now, deprived the Bleues of continuity and wasted a certain number of opportunities. Opportunities that should not be missed to hope for a result on Saturday. “We decided to balance the playing times on this Tournament to try to optimize the forces for this last match against England, that can explain the lack of fluiditysubmits Thomas Darracq. On Saturday, we will be able to measure the relevance of this choice.”