Oita (Japan) (AFP)

One of the most experienced players has probably precipitated the elimination of the XV of France, in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, Sunday in Oita against Wales (20-19): Sebastien Vahaamahina, whose red card weighed heavily in the final balance.

And if the Blues, rather than take the penaltouche had opted early in the second period for the penalty, well placed, which could have allowed them to count twelve points in advance while they led 19 to 10?

A decision fraught with consequences since Vahaamahina lost her nerves on the ball that was locked in afterwards, elbowing the third Welsh line Aaron Wainwright (49).

Result: a logical red card, which left the Blues outnumbered for thirty minutes.

What happened in the head of the colossus of Noumea, 27 years old (2.03 m, 122 kg), yet one of the executives of this team, who had the first of his 46 selections in 2012 ? And collected his first red card with the jersey hit the Rooster at the worst moment?

Wainwright ignores him: "I was in the maul and he grabbed me to start, I was trying to get the referee's attention while he was shooting me (this first move was already reprehensible, Ed) Then the elbow came in and I was a little surprised that the referee did not see him, fortunately the video referee pointed it out. "

The left pillar of the Blues Jefferson Poirot either: "I do not know, he apologized, he was very moved, but talking about it hot is difficult and I can not speak for him."

- The 2nd red of his career -

Vahaamahina did not show up in the mixed zone, but we can subscribe to the thesis of his teammate in Clermont and team France Camille Lopez: "He farted the lead, point!"

Man discreet and reserved off the field, Vahaamahina turns into a fierce player once the crampons put.

Without losing his nerves often, but it happens to him. As on April 28, 2018 with the ASM in Agen in Top 14, where he had been permanently excluded for the first time in his career, for a punch.

Before addressing the public a finger of honor, harvesting a total of three weeks of suspension, which had deprived him of the tour of the Blues in June in New Zealand.

In an interview published in the daily L'Equipe Thursday, he had just returned to this episode: "I am ashamed of the expulsion and the finger of honor addressed to the public of Agen when I left the field. I insulted, and I farted the lead, I answered, I have big hands, big fingers, we can see it well on my gesture. "

"On the part of a pro, international player, it's not done (...) It's not even a man's behavior, that's to show an image like that, it's very ugly", added -he.

- The teammates in support -

On Sunday, his teammates, like Poirot, did not want to "overwhelm" him. "When we win, it's all together", in defeat too, "added Poirot.

"He apologized because it was a do not do it but it happens ... We are all humans" clutched Rabah Slimani.

Lopez himself believes that it is "in no way his fault". "It's a fact of play, it's part of the history of rugby" continued the opener, for whom, even after the exclusion, the Blues were "still in the game". Up to four minutes from the end.

"We still have opportunities, we did not know how to score," added the opener.

"It did not bother us that much, it sure had to motivate the Welsh, but they came up against a wall, we lose that game on mistakes," said Slimani.

Doubt is however widely allowed, Poirot acknowledged: "Maybe it would have helped us (to play at fifteen), maybe it would not have changed anything." The red card Vahaamahina has not finished turning in the blue heads.

© 2019 AFP