At the Vélodrome stadium,
A demonstration, a great score and a historic victory, but most important: the feeling of work accomplished and of the collective rediscovered. The French XV took a walk on Thursday evening at the Stade Vélodrome against Namibia (96-0) for their third Rugby World Cup match, to the point of establishing two new records. That of the number of points scored in a match, and that of the largest victory in the history of the Blues. But Fabien Galthié’s men were especially delighted with the way in which they played, a week after the disappointing victory against Uruguay (27-12).
The record was in any case not in the heads of the players when they entered the pitch at the Vélodrome stadium, the most important thing was elsewhere, as the vice-captain, Charles Ollivon, explained: “Was it Did we talk about the record before the match? No. We wanted to have the match we had tonight, but we didn’t think it would go like this. » And Les Bleus unfolded, that’s nothing to say. With eight tries already scored at halftime for a score of 54-0, including two in the first ten minutes.
Galthié “enjoyed”
Not enough to make them slow down for the Blues with their collective finally found. “By reaching 54-0 at half-time, we were sure of having the victory in our pocket but we did not change our attitude. And remaining serious and applying ourselves to bring this great score to the end,” underlined the vice-captain.
To score six additional tries in the second half, including a penalty at the very end of the match, and thus achieve this record victory. Everything pleased coach Fabien Galthié:
“I had a blast, as I often do with the XV of France. But the goal was not to enjoy. The instructions were to play together, be us, play as a team and try to play fair. Because if we think about enjoying ourselves, too many ingredients are missing. »
The Blues did not sway despite the exit of Dupont
Like last Thursday and the missed match, despite the victory, against Uruguay, which had sowed doubt among observers, as well as in the group. “We had to be serious about everything, and play a game of friends. It’s good that everyone remained serious despite this half-time lead. Even with the Namibian expulsion in the second half, we didn’t change. We showed the strength of our team in this match,” Charles Ollivon could relish.
“The Namibian expulsion” mentioned by Ollivon corresponds above all to the exit of captain Antoine Dupont on concussion protocol a few minutes after returning from the locker room (46th), following a huge blow to the head caused by his Namibian counterpart, Deysel. But despite the loss of the scrum half who was as sparkling in the game with his foot as at the conclusion, the Blues never slowed down and his replacement, Baptiste Couilloud even scored a try.
The Blues “still in preparation”
An obvious offensive and collective demonstration, and a lot of discipline in the game despite the English referee Matthew Carley, who enormously penalized the Blues against Italy during the last VI Nations tournament. With in all, four small penalties conceded this time against Namibia, after the 15 against Uruguay last Thursday in Lille. “Conceding four penalties, that speaks to us,” Ollivon soberly reacted when Thomas Ramos underlined that they had been able to “pull themselves together and pay attention to discipline, so that’s good too.”
There now remains a long break of 15 days so as not to let things die down before the match against Italy on October 6. Much tougher opposition than Namibia, even if the Blues obviously remain favorites. “It will be two weeks to develop, because we have still not reached the end of development, we are still in preparation,” warned Fabien Galthié. History of then arriving perfectly ready for the quarter-final against South Africa, or Ireland, who face each other this Saturday (9 p.m.).