Beaten on the Irish lawn, the French have good lessons to learn from the defeat, which they had not known for a year and a half.
“It hits the back of the head, it hurts, but we progress and we learn.” After falling against Ireland (32-19), Saturday February 11, during the second day of the Six Nations Tournament, the XV of France and its number 8 Gregory Alldritt tasted after matches full of sadness, which they had not known since the summer of 2021. But past the disappointment, the Blues can rely on this setback, in the first team in the world, to learn several lessons.
The defeat against Ireland can first offer some breathing space to the XV of France. Before this fatal afternoon in Dublin, the men of Fabien Galthié remained on a record of 14 rank successes. A series shelled at each meeting of the Blues, which had ended up becoming a burden, and from which they are now detached. “We weren’t playing for this series, we were playing to win titles, trophies”quickly swept away Gregory Alldritt, ready to move on.
“We had lost the habit of going out with our heads down”
A blessing in disguise also mentally. Suddenly, the Blues found themselves faced with a situation they no longer knew: being stung by defeat. “We had lost the habit of going out with our heads down and not being proud of our performance”recognized Romain Taofifenua. “The defeat, it’s been almost two years since we had met it, it’s not a very pleasant feeling”had already struck his coach, his face closed, at the start of his post-match press conference.
In defeat, Fabien Galthié and his group are ready to “learn”, according to the popular adage, that one progresses more in failure than in success. “This match will bring us a lot, in reading, in analysis”said the coach. “These are experiences that will allow us to continue to remain ambitious above all, and to continue to improve our rugby.”
Changes to make in the game
This setback can also allow them to learn lessons in the game. On Saturday, the French yielded under pressure from the Irish and failed to develop the tactics they wanted. “We played too much in our camp. We should have hit, played high, that’s what was planned before the match”, lamented Fabien Galthié. Confined in their half of the field, the Blues had all the difficulty in the world to approach the opposing try line (only 57 seconds spent in the Irish 22 meters).
The Habs also struggled physically compared to their opponents. “When we see them and us at the end, there is a gap. We are damaged, and they, I have the impression that they can play two more days”, blew Romain Ntamack in the mixed zone. Physical preparation, footwork, but also better negotiating the rucks, which benefited the Irish more… “There are still details to settle if we want to compete with the first nation in the world.summed up the Toulouse Stadium striker.
And why not also reshuffle the cards for certain players? On the lawn of Aviva Stadium, Thibaud Flament, best tackler of the match (28), delivered one of the best copies on the tricolor side. “He continues to progress, to grow, he is a young player who shows great things, match after match.”, praised his hot coach after the meeting. Can the learning of defeat be synonymous with the upheaval of the hierarchy? Seven months before the World Cup at home, the big event of the year, it is not yet too late to change. And in this sense, the defeat of the Blues may come at the best time.