Kumamoto (Japan) (AFP)

No time to relax: four days after the success against the United States, the XV of France is aiming for four points of victory against Tonga Sunday (4:45 pm / 9:45 pm) in Kumamoto, to open (definitely?) The door of the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

The Blues (9 pts) will be fixed on their fate at the kickoff of this third game of pools in this southern city of Japan they know by heart to have established their quarters since September 23.

If Argentina (6 pts) does not beat England (10 pts) on Saturday, then a simple win against the Tongans and they will be sure to get out of the "chicken of death" even before the last game, facing the XV of the Rose on October 12th.

Otherwise, they would deliver a duel "to life, to death" with the English next Saturday in Yokohama.

Whatever the case, a constant: they must imperatively win Sunday to not reduce to ashes the efforts made against Argentina (23-21) and the Americans (33-9), Wednesday.

They had to fight against the modest "Eagles", in the humidity of Fukuoka that they should find in Kumamoto, a hundred kilometers further south on the island of Kyushu, the southernmost of the four main 'archipelago.

- "Not the right to error" -

The scenario of this meeting - they led only three points until the start of the last quarter of an hour - as the pedigree of the opponent of the next one lead to caution: Tonga, surprise winners of the XV of France in pools at the 2011 World Cup (19-14).

A setback then without consequences. It would not be the same sake Sunday, the Blues are aware. And promise, as before challenging the United States, to have come back too far and have seen, on TV, so many surprises during this World to allow any relaxation.

"We are all aware that this match will be a stage above the United States, we are still more + focus + (concentrated) because we know what happened in 2011. Sincerely, I think we really do not take this match lightly, we are all focused and aware of the challenge that awaits us, "says Charles Ollivon.

"We saw against the United States that if we were not regular for 80 minutes, we could pay cash.We do not have the right to make mistakes, we must validate these first two wins. it's going to be very tough, "adds the big third line.

A shovel of penalties in the first period (8, and 10 in total), close to double lost balls (18), a fatal change of strategy while the game on the run had worked: the XV of France was connected to alternating current face in the USA.

- Necessary trust -

He will have to restore the light during a whole match against the rough Tongan, "a team with a lot of force, very aggressive and enterprising" according to Jacques Brunel. "It's a big challenge, especially since we were thrown into the clash against the US We need to do another game to hope to beat this team," said the coach.

He also targeted this meeting more than the one against the Americans, since three-quarters of the players who started against Argentina (23-21) had been spared. Dispensed from match or playing only one period to the maximum.

While two new players left the group on injury (Ramos and Mauvaka after Fofana and Bamba), they are back, to maintain this series of three victories (preparation included) unpublished since the 2015 edition.

"The trust is gradually coming back but we do not ignite," says Brunel. A clear victory and his team would infuse an extra dose of confidence that it will need before rubbing against the English. And to approach the quarterfinals if they wanted to give him a hand.

© 2019 AFP