We may expect it, a France-Argentina is always a pain. It’s choppy, tense, indecisive and imprecise. But, in the end, Saturday, November 6, the Blues ended up caging these Pumas (29-20), who eased off at the end of this meeting where the physical freshness of the French substitutes made the difference.
WE LOVEE
The return of the public
The noise of the shocks and the insults between players in an empty stadium, it had its charm but, honestly, a Marseillaise taken at the top of the lungs by a roaring Stade de France, it’s still something else. Twenty-one months, and one France-Italy (35-22) from February 9, 2020, that the XV of France was waiting to be able to commune again with its supporters. The latter did not let the opportunity pass, offering their players a welcome and unfailing support for 80 minutes.
Jaminet, the quiet boot
In the quagmire of the first period in which the Blues floundered, Melvyn Jaminet will have floated. By his reminders, by his skill under the candlelight, by his ardor. A passion, however, perfectly channeled when it came to typing between the poles. Author of a seven out of eight in this exercise, after 41 points in three games against Australia this summer, the young back confirmed that he was perhaps this scorer so desired by the XV of France.
Flament is not a painter
We knew the young second row particularly gifted, he proved it by registering the test which put the Blues in front. Even if everything was not perfect and he sometimes seemed to be looking for his bearings, Thibaud Flament did not hide for his first selection. He finished best tackle for the Blues with 11 tackles. His mobility and his skill with the ball in hand, qualities that are increasingly sought after in his position, make him a more than credible candidate for the months and years to come.
Pumas that live up to their reputation
Six defeats in as many matches in the Rugby Championship, exhausted players but a grind still there. Especially when it comes to foiling the French. Pugnacious, catchy, provocative, sometimes borderline fake, the Argentines have done justice to their legend.
WE DIDN’T LIKEE
Headless roosters
Forgotten the promises of the dawn of the very first minutes of this match. Very quickly, too quickly, the French were lassoed by the gauchos, falling too easily into the trap of their provocation. The catches of colbacks were much more numerous than the catches of intervals and the penalties weighed down the Blues. They have lost control of their nerves, but also that of their fundamentals.
A victory more physical than technical
Often pressed into melee, Fabien Galthié’s men suffered particularly in the third row where the absence of Charles Ollivon and the non-tenure of Grégory Alldritt weighed heavily and put Antoine Dupont, and all the tricolor animation, on the backward step.
Likewise, Gaël Fickou’s partners will not be able to afford certain errors which would prove to be crippling against the Blacks on November 20. We think of this dismissal of Jalibert, directly in the paws of the Pumas who scored in stride, or these few costly inaccuracies in the last gesture. The top level, and in particular New Zealand, cannot forgive this.