Two weeks after the overwhelming victory of the French against the Namibians (96-0), Fabien Galthié’s men play their place in the quarter-finals against Italy on Friday.
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France or Italy, who will accompany New Zealand in the quarter-finals in Group A? Far from being a formality, the match between French and Italians, Friday October 6 in Lyon (9 p.m.), is decisive for the two opponents in Pool A. After a crushing defeat against the All Blacks (96-17), the Italy, stung, can still qualify for the quarter-finals at the expense of the team led by Charles Ollivon. THE Azzurri have something to worry about for the Blues who remember the last meeting with the Transalpines, which ended with a difficult French victory (29-24) last February.
In a very tight group between three candidates for qualification, the future of the Blues in the World Cup could depend on the bonuses awarded, knowing that a victory brings four points and a draw two points. If France manages to score four or more tries, the offensive bonus will give them an additional point. If she loses by seven points or less, she will also collect a defensive bonus point. She can even combine the two bonuses (four tries or more and a defeat by seven points or less).
In this Group A, the possibility of having two tied teams, or even three, exists. If two teams have the same number of points, they are decided by direct confrontation (the team which won the duel finishes ahead of the other). On the other hand, if three of them finish tied, it will then be the best difference of points in the group which will determine the first, the other two being decided by the direct confrontation between them. Follow the guide to understand the complexity of what is at stake in this clash between French and Italians.
The Blues qualified and first if…
- They win. In the event of a victory, improved or not, the French will come out first in the group.
- They draw. They will retain their first place as winners of New Zealand, according to the head-to-head rule.
- They lose with the double bonus and Italy takes none. This would give first place in the group to the Blues.
The Blues eliminated if…
- They lose without any bonuses.
- They lose with only one bonus, according to the rule of direct confrontations because they will have lost against Italy.
- They lose with the double bonus, and Italy wins with a bonus (tie at 3 which is unfavorable).