What makes a good record in a Six Nations Tournament? Perhaps a hand slipped under the ball by the French second row Posolo Tuilagi to prevent the Scots from snatching victory at the gong. Probably the slightly shaky foot of Italian fly-half Paolo Garbisi as he attempted the winning penalty against the Blues. But certainly, above all, to the nerves of Thomas Ramos when he placed his tee on the lawn of the Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu (Rhône), at the 80e minute of the match against the English. With a 50-meter penalty, the opener gave his team the “crunch” on Saturday March 16, at the end of a match full of twists and turns (33-31).
Hanging, undecided and under tension, this match contrasted with that of the 2023 tournament, which saw the Blues strolling through the English garden of Twickenham (53-10). Above all, it symbolized the paradoxical winter of the Blues, finished in second place in the tournament behind Ireland despite a number of slags in their game. “The match was not always hyper-controlled but we put energy into it,” summarized Captain Grégory Alldritt, who repeatedly repeated his ” pride “ for his troops.
If the third line had replaced “match” with “tournament” in his sentence, his coach sitting next to him probably would not have jumped out of his chair. As for almost two months, the Blues alternated moments allowing the team having beaten the best nations in the world one after the other to resurface between 2019 and 2023 with fairly inexplicable mistakes on both sides of the field.
Against England, the impetuous scrum half Nolann Le Garrec went for a dive into the goal (20e), while Thomas Ramos drilled the points on his feet. Until leading 16 to 3… then conceding three tries. “It’s hard to explain the scenario”recognized Fabien Galthié at the final whistle. “The score could have been heavier for us, we didn’t capitalize on our highlights. » A speech very similar to that given after the draw against Italy, while the efficiency of the Blues was one of their great strengths since 2019.
The aftermath of the World Cup
Another lesson from this tournament: a disappointment during a World Cup takes time to digest, especially when it takes place on home soil. Renewed largely in the name of“collective experience” dear to Fabien Galthié, many of the globalists faltered and left their place, victims of their indiscipline – like center Jonathan Danty, suspended following a red card – or of their performances.
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