Mission accomplished. The XV of France, largely overhauled and rejuvenated, gave itself some fresh air by winning with the bonus in Wales (45-24), Sunday, during the 4th day of the Six Nations Tournament. After the heavy setback against Ireland (38-17), the happy victory in Scotland (20-16) and the pitiful draw against Italy (13-13), the Blues fulfilled their contract: to secure a victory for failing to be completely reassuring.
Fabien Galthié’s men were able to rely on five tries from Racing 92 center Gaël Fickou (22nd) and his partner scrum half Nolann Le Garrec (29th) then from pillar George-Henri Colombe (65th), second line Romain Taofifenua (69th) and replacing scrum half Maxime Lucu (80th). They were also able to count on the success at the foot of the opener and scorer Thomas Ramos, author of twenty points and new record holder for the number of transformations in the French team (64).
End of the match and #XVdeFrance on Welsh soil!!
5 tries scored by our Blues who leave with 1 bonus point #GALFRA#NeFaisonsXV#SixNationspic.twitter.com/3A3o7NDPQc
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) March 10, 2024
Difficulties persist in defense
The Tricolores have now not lost to the Welsh since the quarter-final of the 2019 World Cup in Japan and a narrow defeat (20-19). However, they had not won in Cardiff by such a margin since 2007 and a 34-7 victory. Seventeen years later, the Blues especially needed to show another face after a complicated start to the Tournament. With a new found iron discipline (three penalties conceded), they certainly showed more desire than against Ireland, were more conquering than in Scotland and less ghostly than against Italy, but everything was not was perfect.
Particularly in defense where the wall put in place by the Englishman Shaun Edwards, who spent eleven years in Wales (2008-2019), once again cracked: three times, the French defense opened , allowing winger Rob Dyer (9th), scrum half Tomos Williams (29th) and center Joe Roberts (43rd) to score their try. Enough to put Wales in the lead (24-20), still looking for a victory in this tournament.
Le Garrec’s class
Fortunately for Grégory Alldritt’s teammates, the French also found that French flair that they lacked, like the daring chistera of scrum half Nolann Le Garrec (33rd). The young Racing 92 player showed off all his class for his first start and showed that he had the shoulders to become number 2 in the rotation, behind the untouchable Antoine Dupont. One of the other rookies, center Nicolas Depoortère, also delivered a complete score, as did opener and scorer Thomas Ramos and second line Thibaud Flament.
Despite everything, facing the Welsh who have not shone in the Tournament for three years (two victories, eleven defeats), the Blues, a sign of their latent excitement, scared themselves before outclassing their hosts, who collapsed physically. This saving success allows the French to breathe a little. Above all, it offers them a week of respite before going to Lyon to face a reinvigorated and convincing England team, which has just brought down Ireland (23-22).