Oita (Japan) (AFP)

A "tackler-scorer" (Wenceslas Lauret), an N.8 who makes progress (Grégory Alldritt) and a runner (Charles Ollivon), able to ensure the continuity of the game: after a year and a half of trial and error, the coach of XV of France Jacques Brunel seems to have found the recipe for a balanced third line.

Sunday in Oita (South Japan), in the World Cup quarter-final against Wales, she will only be in line for the third time, after the two matches of the competition against Argentina and Tonga (23- 21 each time).

And for good reason: Alldritt (22 years old, 10 sel.) Made his international debut only in February, when Ollivon (26 years old, 10 sel.) Had not yet found the competition after a relapse of his fracture. a scapula that has ruined his life in the last two years.

They started to make the pair in the first two warm-up games, against Scotland, Nice (32-3) and Edinburgh (14-17), two games that could not compete with Lauret (30 years, 26 sel .), then handicapped by a pain in a thigh.

The Racingman returned for the last lap of heat, against Italy at the Stade de France (47-19), meeting that had not started Alldritt and Ollivon.

This third line has been launched in the big bath at the World because of its complementarity that any staff search even if some exceptions exist (the Australians with the duo of "scrapers" Pocock-Hooper for example).

- Lauret, essential profile -

Lauret is the band's "tackle-scraper", valuable for physically scoring the opponent and slowing down his ball releases, and thus de facto his game. "A profile that's needed in a team, even if it's more in difficulties ball in hand, it is not new "declares to AFP Thomas Lievremont, former N.8 of XV of France.

Ollivon is superior technically and capable, by "his intelligence of play and his qualities of displacement", continues Lievremont, to ensure the link between front and three quarters, essential to allow the continuity of the game.

They surround Alldritt, who certainly has "no power" of Louis Picamoles, the former incumbent of the post of N.8, according to Lievremont, but who "plays so fair that it moves forward", with its "support and his individual technique ".

Between November 2018 and the 2019 Six Nations Tournament, Brunel had made seven appearances (in eight games) a third line that seemed already balanced, consisting of Lauret, Picamoles and Arthur Iturria.

The news is even more so since Ollivon, whose long run is superior to that of Iturria, is more the link between the front and the back.

- Alldritt and Ollivon, interchangeable -

Above all, says Lievremont, the XV of France does not "practice the same rugby" since the arrival in the staff this summer of Fabien Galthie, cantor of a game more focused on the movement.

"This third line is the game that wants to practice coaching" abounds Jean-Claude Skrela, former 3rd line and coach of the Blues.

Lievremont elaborates: "There has been an evolution, we now need a third line of + break +, and Ollivon fulfills this role as could have done (François) Cros (finally not retained). Alldritt, even if it is more upwind and in the cover of the + third curtain +. "

Ollivon and Alldritt improve this third line, continues the old N.8: "They are indispensable and interchangeable.They breathe the same rugby, manage to cross their individual technique, are very strong in the duels, on the supports, and by their gestures are able to play after them "continues the old N.8.

Ollivon himself acknowledged, before the match of Argentina, have affinities with the Rochelais: "We did not know each other at least two and a half months ago, we got along well outside the field and, when the matches have arrived, without necessarily being voluntary, we found ourselves on the field, be it me with the ball, him in support and vice versa. " It is to wish for the Blues that they are easily again Sunday.

© 2019 AFP