An insurmountable wall and a great series of victories. But also a game reduced to the bare minimum and too many tricolor clumsiness. Find what our journalist present in Cardiff learned from the victory (13-9) of the Blues.
Special envoy to Cardiff
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No admittance
The Blues delivered a stunning defensive performance with only 9 missed tackles (only one in the first half…). In tight ranks, they managed to keep their clean sheet for the first time in the Galthié era (in 24 matches). We have to go back to September 2019, and the match against the United States during the World Cup in Japan (33-9) to find traces of the last time the XV of France had not conceded a try. Proof of the strength of the tricolor iron curtain, it has been 13 years since Wales finished a match in the Six Nations Tournament at home without scoring a try…
The fervor is still rising
This French team which wins again and seduces with its game and its heroism arouses an ever stronger enthusiasm. In Cardiff, hundreds of supporters cheered for the Blues as they passed by bus to the stadium. A stadium where 6 to 7,000 aficionados, with berets, mustaches or painted faces, made a lot of noise to support the efforts of their players. “ I want to say thank you to them, greeted Antoine Dupont after the match. We really feel supported. We heard the Marseillaise several times. It matters a lot when there is so much tension on the pitch. So thanks. And keep it up! We still need you against England.»
SEE ALSO – Six Nations: four wins in four matches, “the dream scenario” for Galthié
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serial winner
It had been 18 years since the Blues had won seven matches in a row. In 2004, they even won eight in a row. The best series in the history of the XV of France. That Dupont and his teammates can equalize next Saturday at the Stade de France by beating England to complete a 10and Grand Slam expected since 2010.
Claw strokes
For the game, we will go back
Between a French team braced in defense and the Welsh favoring tactical footwork, there is little cause for celebration for aesthetes. The statistics of the meeting illustrate the starving place of the attacks. A crossing for the Welsh, three for the Blues. Who actually only had one real trial opportunity. Concluded for formidable efficiency. “ We have only one real attack ball and we score a try “Summarized Romain Ntamack at the microphone of France 2. Wayne Pivac, the coach of Wales, made the same observation, but with more bitterness. “ We have a trial opportunity in the second half but we did not materialize it. It’s really hard to score against this team. It’s frustrating, boring, disappointing…»
Read alsoSix Nations: the only test of Wales-France in video
soapy hands
The Blues committed a lot of forward Friday night against the Welsh. Thirteen listed in total. With, on the clumsy podium, Romain Ntamack (4), Jonathan Danty (3) and Grégory Alldritt (2). “There is a bit of a bit of frustration in the game, concedes the opener of Stade Toulousain. We were less precise, we made more mistakes with our hands. As a result, we have not always succeeded in setting up our game system.»
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