“Big” loans for the All Blacks (but Dupont wants more)

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We have only been talking about them for a month! Matthieu Jalibert here, Romain Ntamack there. As if the whole game of the XV of France was based only on them. The press plays its role, and spreads all day long on the subject. However, it is the “big guys” who have been doing the job with the Blues since the start of the fall tour. As against Argentina a week ago, the tricolor pack again caused damage this Sunday during the victory against Georgia (41-15). Two teams renowned for being cheerful and rough. This is to say the good form of Baille, Woki or Willemse. And besides, they can do even better.

In the end, we are at five tries for the “big” out of the eight registered by the XV of France on these two matches. And to be completely honest with them (it’s always better to avoid minor worries), Matthieu Jalibert’s test comes from a magnificent counter five meters from his teammate’s line at UBB Cameron Woki then that Damien Penaud can thank the French scrum on his first try and the whole pack on the second. Moreover, Fabien Galthié was not mistaken when answering a question about his satisfaction after this success against the Georgians: “The victory, the score and also at times, our conquest. Whether it’s the touchdown or the scrum. “

Nothing better than the Bege turtle

“It is a key sector in current rugby,” explains third row François Cros. It’s very positive to achieve this kind of performance, especially given the conditions. We were able to reassure ourselves on that ”. The Blues were particularly good on the mauls with a penalty try in the first half and then the double from Peato Mauvaka behind two good old Béglaises turtles as the old ones would say. For aesthetes, it will be necessary to iron. And maybe not next Saturday against the All Blacks. According to the greatest meteorologist in France, aka Fabien Galthié, “we will also have the right to rain”. For the moment on our map, we only see clouds. But hey, the rugby translation is there: the XV of France has planned to insist on these phases of the game like the Irish this weekend against New Zealand.

François Cros, the third line of the Blues. – Romain Perrocheau / AFP

As Antoine Dupont insists, the primary objective will be “to give the ball as little as possible” to the All Blacks. Keep the leather warm under your arm before hoping to launch large flights at random. We don’t play that against the best team in the world. Otherwise, in the end, it is often very expensive. In any case, the tricolor pack, holders or substitutes, is ready. But be careful not to lose your identity. It is the boss who warns:

“The Irish put out a magnificent match, but you shouldn’t copy them because we don’t have the same players and the same game! “

OUF, French flair still has a few days ahead of it.

“They are able to do even better” in the current game

In this regard, Antoine Dupont, who had to bother like a dead rat (to be polite) at Matmut Atlantique on Sunday, so few clean balls he had to exploit, had a little message for his forwards. “On these first two games, we were also put back in our place sometimes and I think they (the” big “) are able to do even better”. Not false ! The captain got it right. Well, that’s probably why he’s a captain. But it is true that if the tricolor pack is irreproachable on the static phases, it is much less so in the current game. And that is perhaps also why the French three-quarters do not shine much for the moment. Without a clean ball from the forwards, it is difficult to send the game behind.

“We are bickering a lot (in the rucks),” admits scrum half Maxime Lucu. Not really good news when it comes to dealing with the best scratchers in the world on the ground. Richie McCaw and Kieran Read have a few heirs. In short, as often against the All Blacks, it “will have to be much better” than usual for Antoine Dupont. He knows it and that’s why they show themselves so demanding with his “big”. The response is expected from 9 p.m. Saturday.


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