What if this was the big turning point in Fabien Galthié’s tenure at the head of the XV of France? Saturday, November 20, the Blues, heroic and united from start to finish, beat the formidable All Blacks (40-25) in a boiling atmosphere. After a very high-end first half, they were able to put their backs on the back of the locker room to establish their domination at the end of the game. Back to the figures that explain this victory, as rare as it is deserved, in terms of statistics.
14 passes after contact
From the start, the Blues set the tone. Like the pair of center Danty-Fickou, the French dominated all their duels in the first period. After 40 minutes of play, they had already won seven duels. But Antoine Dupont’s teammates, in addition, often managed to pass the ball after being tackled (the famous offloads). In the first half alone, eight passes after contact were made, ensuring the continuity of the game of the Blues and thus putting incessant pressure on the black defense. In total, at the end of the meeting, the French made fourteen passes after contact, for ten to their opponents.
100% at the foot of Melvyn Jaminet
This is one of the big winners of this fall tour. In a few months, Melvyn Jaminet went from a surprise guest, this summer in Australia, to the indisputable holder of the XV of France. If he is the first French to have signaled with a breakthrough from the first moments of the game, the Catalan also distinguished himself thanks to his kicking game. Facing the poles, he converted each of the possibilities offered to him. Four penalties and four conversions for a total of 20 points. Or half of the points scored by the Blues.
167 tackles made by the French
It was the basis of the game advocated by Fabien Galthié and his staff since their arrival at the helm of the national team. Count on an iron defense to suffocate the opponent and develop his game behind. Defending to attack better, the tactic has often been the source of great New Zealand successes in recent years. This time the trump card was in the face, and the Blacks were punished. Saturday, on the lawn of the Stade de France, the teammates of an Anthony Jelonch at the forefront of the fight (20 tackles), the French returned to their heroic defense. François Cros for his part made 14 tackles and Grégory Alldritt added 16. If the Blues managed 167 tackles, they only missed 16. Or less 10%. Six players have signed more than ten tackles. Opposite, the New Zealanders have made only 70 tackles.