The XV of France shone, intermittently, for its entry into the Tournament, Sunday, against Italy (24-29). But, in Rome, he also showed some disturbing signs of feverishness.
This may be exactly what this XV of France needed. An adversary in full progression who knows, better than the predictable British, to drive us crazy. Faulted as rarely by Transalpine so skilled at foiling, the Blues tested their nerves at least as much as their combinations. Out victorious (29-25) without leaving too many feathers, Sunday, February 5, the men of Fabien Galthié were able to continue their winning streak and launch their Tournament well. This will not exempt them from going on the blackboard, because there is a lot of work before the trip to Ireland next Saturday.
What we liked:
An almost too perfect start
Even if he was able to intoxicate the Blues afterwards, the start of the Tricolores match was like a midsummer night’s dream. Everything slid, everything rolled, everything worked. The partners of Antoine Dupont chained the offensives with insolent success and nothing seemed to predict the continuation, much more confused. But this start had the merit, at least, of proving that the Blues were still hungry and did not intend to sell off their title, World Cup year at home or not.
Dumortier makes the binder
Never mind the inexperience of a first selection. From the height of his 22 years, Ethan Dumortier seized his chance with the insolence of his youth. Fearless in his defensive withdrawals, he above all justified his qualities as a finisher (already 8 tries in Top14) to recover an offering from Romain Ntamack and register his first international try. If he continues this momentum, there will certainly be many more. But, he demonstrated great adaptability within a group that was nevertheless perfectly rehearsed. However, as he admitted at the microphone of France Télévisions after the match, the baptism of fire was tough: “I understood what the international level was during the first 10 minutes, it quickly calmed me down”. Not that much, obviously.
Capuozzo, symbol of rebirth
His name is not Michel, but Ange, and he never ceases to amaze. Presented as the new wonder of this young Italian generation, Ange Capuozzo has justified his budding reputation. By devouring space (122 meters covered, highest total of the two teams), but also by being at the conclusion of a transalpine movement to add the final brushstroke. Already his 6th try in 8 selections.
The diagonal, a new masterstroke on the French chessboard?
In a game where to stagnate is to regress, the staff of the Blues has, it seems, developed a new strategy to continue to surprise, to play where it is not necessarily expected. The two passes at the foot of Romain Ntamack, for Penaud who serves Ramos, then for Dumortier, are necessarily part of a game plan studied in training. The rest, namely these perfectly measured diagonals, belongs only to the talent of the tricolor opener.
We didn’t like
Disciples of Indiscipline
It’s very simple, last year, France had respectively conceded 7, 8, 9 and 9 penalties against Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland in the 2022 tournament. And 14 against this same Italy. No doubt, the Transalpins know how to unpin the Blues like no one. We must also recognize their art, pushed to perfection this Sunday (18 penalties awarded in their favor). But this is not a fatality, nor a reason to justify all these Roman errors. With the penalty on each regrouping, on each ruck, the men of Galthié sawed the branch, however solid, on which they were seated. Result, a chopped match, and above all a feeling of fullness and mastery that has completely disappeared. Hoping this is only temporary.
A new identity still unclear
Fabien Galthié had made it his new hobbyhorse: the game of the Blues had to evolve towards a new aspiration: that of “repossession”. Knowing how to regain control of the ball as soon as it is lost. A laudable ambition but terribly undermined at the Stadio Olimpico. Penalized by faults in the combat phase, unable to hinder the Squadra in melee (Italy won 100% of their introductions) or on the hits (only 2 hits won on opposing throws), the French team had to resolve to leave possession of the leather to his opponent, yet not a master of the field (57% against 43%). Again, the Blues are clearly in the learning phase. Rome was certainly not built in a day, but they would do well to speed up the construction phase.