In the absence of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, the Bordeaux-Béglaise pair did not convince in their first two matches. Young Nolann Le Garrec is applying for a starting place against Italy on Sunday.
Published
Update
Reading time: 4 min
A very pale burgundy hinge. Propelled as starters with the absences of Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont, Matthieu Jalibert and Maxime Lucu focus some of the criticism after the Blues’ sluggish start to the Six Nations Tournament. Yet having had a very high-flying start to the season with Union Bordeaux-Bègles (third in the Top 14, qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions Cup), the Bordeaux duo has not yet reached their best level. international.
Against Ireland, like the whole team, Lucu and Jalibert were dominated and overwhelmed (56% tackle success between them, the lowest total in the starting XV), despite a ray of sunshine during their involvement in the penultimate and last pass on Damian Penaud’s try just before the break.
Day 1: the test of hope by the inevitable Damian Penaud
. – (.)
In Scotland, they did not weigh on the fate of the meeting either. Maxime Lucu, with a more managerial and less flamboyant style of play than Antoine Dupont, appeared particularly borrowed, with several bad choices and technical errors. For his 20th selection (the eighth as a starter), ithe same left the pitch in the 50th minute, a moment usually more conducive to a squad review on the front line. On the pitch at Murrayfield, his teammate at the opening (who was celebrating his 20th start in 32 caps) also suffered greatly under the long Scottish kicks and released three balls, including one which led to the opponent’s first try.
Dominated against Ireland, behind in Scotland
“There are defensive errors from Matthieu Jalibert which are not due to the collective, but rather individual, on high balls for example, so that’s a lot at this level”estimates Dimitri Yachvili, former international scrum half and France Télévisions consultant, who wonders about a gaming system “which may not suit them”.
Beyond their individual faults, the two UBB players were also not put in the best conditions to shine. “Qhen you play 9 or 10, you depend on the performance of your forwards, and there, we can’t say that we were very good on the forward side, recalls Dimitri Yachvili. We lost balls in conquest, four balls in touch against the Irish, two in Scotland, that’s already six ammunition less, which is a lot.” In a collective with success and efficiency at half mast, it is difficult for Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert to add something extra.
“You don’t really play in an armchair, the ball releases aren’t really fast, so obviously the hinge has difficulty energizing the game.”
Dimitri Yachvili, former scrum half of the France teamat franceinfo: sport
An opinion shared by Toulon coach, Pierre Mignoni, himself a former scrum half, who came to defend the Bordeaux pair after the match against Scotland. “I don’t think it’s the hinge’s fault (…) We have to stop pointing the finger at poor Matthieu Jalibert and Maxime Lucuhe assured AFP during the week. It’s always easy, I knew it too, as soon as the team lost, it was the fault of the hinge. The hinge has a lot of responsibilities on the game, but the whole team has a lot of responsibilities on the combat and the things to do“.
What place for Nolann Le Garrec?
Despite everything, with this mixed record, Fabien Galthié and the staff could be tempted to make a little change at positions 9 and 10. Especially since the young Nolann Le Garrec (21 years old) was interesting during his two entries into play. And even decisive, since in Scotland, he was well placed to serve Louis Bielle-Biarrey, author of the winning try in the last 10 minutes. “Nolann Le Garrec energized the game. If we want to make a more dynamic game, he can take on this responsibility”explains Dimitri Yachvili.
Day 2: the XV of France takes the lead thanks to Louis Bielle-Biarrey
After multiple dismissals, France and Scotland faced each other in a melee which turned to the advantage of the Blues. On the wing, Louis Bielle-Biarrey was successful and enterprising. He made his way to the goal of the Chardon XV. At the transformation, Thomas Ramos did not miss behind allowing the XV of France to take control for the first time in the match. – ()
The first steps of the Racing 92 scrum half visibly pleased his coach. In the France group for two years and the Japan tour, “he is gradually taking ownership of the position, the role and the international level with great satisfaction”had appreciated Fabien Galthié before the match in Scotland. Registered on the list of protected players for the last day of Top 14 and therefore preserved, Nolann Le Garrec is now in the debate for a start against Italy.