By being magnanimous, we can always say that the suspense lasted a short half-time. But, and this is the problem with a country whose championship, according to the Frenchman Pierre Berbizier who trained it from 2005 to 2007, corresponds to a level of Federal 1 (the third hexagonal division), Italy does not is quite simply never able to go the distance in a Six Nations Tournament, which she now squats against and against all sporting logic. Sunday, in the greyness of Saint-Denis, where a tenacious drizzle had not deterred more than 60,000 spectators from making the trip, France therefore inevitably beat its host 37-10. A score that is both flattering and well-founded, it will be said, so much, on the one hand the copy was messy for a long time, but, on the other hand, the difference in level seemed intrinsically too great to allow the Squadra Azzura to hope better than to fall with honors. Which was (almost) the case.
At the end of the first day of the Six Nations Tournament, the flagship competition of European rugby (itself in full swing since the results recorded this autumn against the heavyweights of the southern hemisphere, returned to the fold crippled with doubts) which, at a year and a half of the World Cup, will have the value of a reliable barometer, France is therefore in the nails. Contract fulfilled: namely a victory, which is further improved (with five tries scored, while four are enough to glean an additional point in the standings), which allows him to keep intact this status of favorite that he is reluctant to endorse.
Dodge the traps
However, the manner clearly left something to be desired: numerous faults on the ground, approximate footwork… Like the Toulouse hinge, Antoine Dupont / Romain Ntamack, undoubtedly the best in the world when it is running at full speed – but which, in this case, has only been playing again for a short time, following the annoyances inherent in the pandemic -, the XV of France has long appeared feverish, not too much in rhythm and badly inspired, the three spectacular tries registered in the wing by the Toulonnais Gabin Villière which can in this sense be perceived as a luxurious lure. Or, which is no less true, the almost recurrent ability of the Blues today to dodge traps in which they were still getting stuck not so long ago. “In the end, we’re doing pretty well,” thus lucidly recognized the Toulousain Anthony Jelonch, author of the first test on a providential interception which allowed France to engage the forward march.
Stayed at home after being tested positive for Covid on Thursday, coach Fabien Galthié left it to his right arm, Raphaël Ibanez, to award the good points: “The first twenty minutes [inquiétantes, ndlr] are attributable to the fact that we had not played together for three months [ce qui est aussi vrai pour toutes les autres nations]. But, in delicate conditions, the players were able to remain solid, serious and involved. This allowed them to gain momentum in the second half. retained the general manager. Before Antoine Dupont, promoted to captain (for a long time?) in the absence of Charles Ollivon, did his soul-searching, recognizing “some bad choices and approximations, including personal, with in particular a too long kicking game”.
Flats which, we understand, do not lend – or very little – to consequence against an opponent as weak as Italy. But which will have to be quickly rectified. “We all know that we will have to raise our individual and collective level next week”, thus admitted Antoine Dupont, referring to the next tricolor meeting. Namely the arrival, next Saturday at the Stade de France, of Ireland – who overwhelmed Wales, at the start of the event, 29-7 – for a match which, although part of the second day (out of five) of the tournament, will already present the appearance of a final before the letter.