spaces in defense, the last French project before the Crunch

After three tries conceded too easily in Cardiff, the French defense will be expected to turn the corner during the clash of the last day against England, Saturday in Lyon.

Show on both lines and doubts that persist. While the Blues found offensive colors and finally increased their attempts against Wales on Sunday, the defensive performance was not always reassuring, and even constituted the big downside of the victory. Pwinger of Fabien Galthié’s first mandate, with great solidity on the last lines, a capacity to pressure the opponent, and few opportunities left to be overwhelmed, the French defense seems to have been derailed since the quarter-final lost against the Springboks.

In Cardiff, before their crazy end to the match, the Blues were pierced defensively by the young Welsh, conceding two first tries by leaving too much space in the middle. “We take tries at the start of the match a little too easily”, regretted Thomas Ramos in the aisles of the Millennium on Sunday evening. The first opposing try came on a breakthrough from winger Rio Dyer, and the second arrived after an inside return from Owen Watkins to make the difference and serve Tomos Williams on a plate. “These are things that we have been repeating for several weeks: inside we have to go up, we have to close, it’s our weak point in the match”continued the evening opener. “There was a bit of a lack of defensive intensity. What we did well offensively, we had difficulty doing defensively at the start of the match”estimates Vincent Clerc, France Télévisions consultant.

A sector under tension

At the beginning of February, the Blues had already cracked defensively when they entered the fray against Ireland (38-17). A few days later, on the eve of the second match against Scotland, discussions about defensive largesse had also left the coach in charge of the sector, Shaun Edwards, a little tense. “We were the best World Cup defense. OK ? I understood the question and yes, I agree, we need to improve”, he answered a question about the number of tries conceded during the Blues’ last outings.

If defense is not one of the sectors affected by the changes in the staff after the World Cup, it may have suffered from the numerous absences in the group (including some good defenders, like Romain Ntamack), and the adjustments which followed. “You always have to readjust, regain bearings and automatisms. This can play a role in defensive disorganization”notes Serge Betsen, 63 matches in the blue jersey, and former defense coach in Rouen.

According to him, the change factor is particularly relevant to explain the gaps in the French defense in Cardiff, due to the new features in the composition. “We had Thomas Ramos in 10, and the first start of Nolann Le Garrec in 9. There are these new elements which meant that the defense of the France team had a lack of efficiency. But for me it’s normal, it’s due to the changes and adaptations of the team in relation to different roles.”

On Tomos Williams’ try, Owen Watkins slipped between neo-10 Thomas Ramos and Nicolas Depoortere, one of the three players celebrating their first cap. “A player like Depoortere was making his first selection and is not used to playing first center, so he perhaps lacked a bit of reference, and with the pressure, there may have been a bit of wait-and-see attitude. “deciphers Vincent Clerc. On the Welsh entries into their 22 meters, the Blues often seemed disorganized, and without a second curtain to cover.

A more readable defense?

But the Blues’ difficulties can also come from their opponents’ ability to adapt to their game. “In modern rugby, each team looks down to the millimeter, down to the last detail, to find flaws in the movement of opponents, solutions to create gaps, to advance offensively. You have to constantly reinvent yourself.”, deciphers Serge Betsen. More monitored and more expected, the French defense, long resistant over time and capable of recovering the balls, has perhaps also lost its solidity because it has become more readable.

In the fervor of victory, the tests conceded against the Welsh reminded us that the French team is still rebuilding, a few months after a big disappointment at the World Cup at home, and at the start of a new four-year cycle towards 2027. “We cannot bring everything up to standard overnight and produce a perfect match. Obviously there are sectors that are less efficient than others”explains Dimitri Yachvili, France Télévisions consultant. “VSIt’s not as easy as you might think, it takes a little time to find effectiveness.”agrees Serge Betsen.

Saturday, facing the XV de la Rose, which is gaining strength and which has relied on its defense in its own reconstruction, the Blues will pass a new test. “We need to be more precise on certain points, particularly on defense.”recognized Fabien Galthié after the announcement of his composition on Thursday. “It’s hitting hard in the middle of the field, we’re going to have to respond, certainly more than we have done before.”