The notes of the Blues after France-Italy (13-13): Jonathan Danty at fault, all guilty

His unacademic passes often found a taker… but not always, like a missed opportunity at the end of the first act. His kick for himself directly into touch was another symbol of his imprecision (32nd). He lost a duel against Monty Ioane on an Italian highlight, fifteen minutes from the end. The UBB winger was restless, giving the impression that a flash of lightning from him could change everything on Sunday, but that never materialized.

• In short : When its magic does not work, the whole is insufficient.

We regained his explosiveness, the time of a hook, during the first period, and he was decent in defense. But he did not finish the action with a break opportunity, in the first quarter of an hour, while France led 7-0. In hindsight, it hurts. During the second act, he backed away from a good tackle on the legs and did not find the fault.

Sanctioned with a red card just before half-time for head-to-head contact, on an attempted tackle where he did not bend down enough, Danty put his team in difficulty. Before that, his imprecise pass for Mauvaka had cost the Blues a try opportunity (12th). On the other hand, he had made a decisive “contest”, five meters from his goal (17th), and countered an Italian foot play, within the opposing 22 meters. Very little compared to the damage represented by playing forty minutes at fourteen.

Not very incisive in his first duel, the last minute guest of the French XV was initially shy. In a different role with fourteen, he signed a good restart at the start of the second act, causing a penalty scored by Ramos. Lebel doesn’t have much to reproach himself for but he wasn’t sharp either, during this draw which sounds like a defeat, given that France failed to beat Italy at home for the first time in tournament.

It is not this meeting that will restore his confidence. On the action which ends with the poor transmission between Danty and Mauvaka, he makes a breakthrough, but is unable to fix the last defender. A foot pass directly into touch, while Penaud seemed available in hand (24th), a forward a few minutes later: it contributed to the Blues’ lack of efficiency. Little used defensively, he left the pitch in the 37th minute, without putting his left leg on the ground.

• In short : He almost embodied a historic blue back.

Despite 74% territorial domination and countless pick-and-go sequences near the promised land, France only led 10-3 at the break. It’s not just his fault – far from it – but his role as a scrum-half involves making the right choices in these important moments. It was then muddled, like its predecessors, rather than a guide for them.

• In short : He failed to address the team’s chronic ineffectiveness.

Replaced in the 49th minute by Nolann Le Garrec, which started with a missed kick. The Racing scrum half provoked an opposing attack with a tackle on the ankles which offered important ammunition at the end of the match.

• In short : Without much relief.

His teammate at the RCT, Esteban Abadie, replaced him in the 66th minute, thus honoring his first cap. He is to be credited with a counter hit.

A good scratch at the start of the match started a decent score. As since the start of the Six Nations Tournament, Cros has been present in many areas, in this number 8 position which he knows less than that of flanker. A false note: he is sanctioned for having placed his elbows on the ground, in a “contest” in the 40th minute.

• In short : His importance in the team is growing.

Precious by an axial breakthrough on the first interesting sequence of the Blues. A timely retreat allows him to catch a ball in the second curtain. The third line from La Rochelle also had to play behind, due to the exclusion of Danty. He tackled a lot (14 times, the highest French total) and declined slightly physically, failing to clear support for Moefana, on the action which could have led to a French defeat.

• In short : Left to make a benchmark match, he took a bit of a nosedive. Still solid.

A nice one-step pass for Jalibert at the start of the match demonstrated his dexterity. He only broke the opposing defense line once but advanced many times. The 19-year-old bus was interesting in its register, but like Atonio (see below) this made it possible to create progress, not to concretize it in points.

• In short : A first tenure without a hitch.

Romain Taofifenua replaced him in the 49th minute and quickly stood out. But he also lost a ball on impact.

Woki responded on the bases, particularly on the sidelines. But he was less energetic than the behemoths around him, as a ball carrier (only 4 races). His speed was thus unable to express itself, whereas on “cuts” or at three-quarter support, he has the profile to be more brilliant.

• In short : Not catastrophic but within.

Alexandre Roumat (49th minute) took over.

Still as strong in melee, he was used first hand to push Paolo Garbisi. Atonio excited the audience with some percussion. He also tried to “play” those around him with a certain talent. But with his size, not having been able to forcefully flatten near one of the Blues’ many threatening rucks is a small disappointment.

• In short : His power was useful… but was not enough.

Dorian Aldegheri replaced him in the 49th minute.

He missed a tackle on Martin Page-Relo in the first half, in addition to letting the ball escape on Danty’s admittedly imperfect pass. Mauvaka doesn’t have as much juice as during the World Cup. Best in conquest, with a touch finally on point in this Tournament, but not enough to jump to the ceiling compared to the qualities he has.

• In short : He seems to be falling into line.

Julien Marchand took over, during the burst of changes at the start of the second period.

A ball lost in contact in the 10th minute and his involvement in a penalty conceded in scrum did not completely tarnish his match. Very active (12 races with the ball in hand, as many as Penaud) and generally in tune with the pack of forwards in conquest, the Toulouse left pillar is a sure value from whom we expect even more. For example, he has not made much progress in relation to this activity.

• In short : He can do better.

Replaced by Sébastien Taofifenua in the 49th minute.