Oita (Japan) (AFP)

Will the Welsh recognize the Blues Sunday? From his unbelievable defeat to the opening of the Six Nations Tournament on February 1 (24-19), to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Oita (South of Japan), the XV of France has seen his supervision strengthened and his amended game.

+ From the "remontada" to the Berezina

16 to 0, the case seems heard at half-time: the Blues are heading, this February 1st at the Stade de France, to a success against Wales who will launch ideally their Tournament and their season leading to the World Cup.

This is to forget that they are fragile, out of November 2018 tests failed, where they have let slip, at the last minute, a victory against South Africa (26-29). Again in Saint-Denis, the old demons reappear: two errors of Yoann Huget and Sebastien Vahaamahina, the last 8 minutes from the end, allow the Welsh to win (24-19).

The XV of France, him, attack in full doubt the trip to Twickenham, the following weekend, where it will be rolled (44-8), caught especially under the crossfire of English offensive kicks.

+ Scotland on fiery thistles

The sinking in England involves several strong decisions. On behalf of coach Jacques Brunel, who dismisses the hinge of Clermont Parra-Lopez, guilty of criticizing half-word coaching; it is replaced by the young pair Dupont-Ntamack, which guides the game of the Blues in Japan.

Brunel, telegraphed by the N.2 of the Serge Simon Federation, is also trying to withdraw the captaincy at Guilhem Guirado to entrust Jefferson Poirot. Refusal of the Bordelais and the group, who supports Guirado and will support him, in his relations with the staff, by formally setting up a council of the wise.

External communication is also changed: the designated players, tired of taking turns in front of televisions, radios and the written press, will speak only once to the media - format since abandoned. And at the captain's press conference, the day before France-Scotland (23 February), Guirado will be accompanied by Picamoles. With rare exceptions, the captain will have since been supported by at least one player during his press-points.

+ Tournament failed, reinforced frame

The Blues reacted by dominating Scotland (27-10) but sank again in Ireland (26-14) two weeks later before ending the tournament with a miraculous victory in Italy (25-14). Meanwhile, the Welsh perform the Grand Slam.

Faced with the danger of a first elimination in hens in World Cup, the president of the Federation Bernard Laporte decides to add Fabien Galthié to Jacques Brunel. At first reluctant, the coach sits with the presidential will: Galthie, future coach, is officially appointed in charge of offensive animation on May 7.

He arrived in early July, during the preparation, with a new head of physical training, Thibault Giroud, and Laurent Labit, his future assistant in charge of rear. Meanwhile, Mathieu Bastareaud, yet vice-captain, is ousted from the extended group chosen for the World Cup (June 18). He is judged not sufficiently mobile, the mantra, precisely, of Galthie.

+ A preparation, new systems

With Galthie and Giroud, the Blues sweat during the two and a half months of preparation to fill their athletic, technical and tactical backwardness on the best nations.

The first effects are felt during the three preparation matches (two wins and one loss). In defense, the XV de France controls less and attacks more the opposing team, while the opener now helps the back for the cover of the "third curtain" lesson learned from defeats against the Welsh and the English.

In attack, the front five is circumscribed to a limited perimeter, in order to keep influx to repeat the maximum of tasks. And the whole team, by its own admission to the image of Jefferson Poirot Tuesday, has more landmarks and "structures" on which to rest. Offensively but also to reassure himself during his "empty passages". This was far from obvious against Argentina opening the World Cup (23-21). And almost a month later? Answer Sunday.

© 2019 AFP