Paris (AFP)
Allowed to dream.
The XV of France, surprisingly fresh, rounded off the 2020 Six Nations Tournament with a convincing victory (35-27) against Ireland and a second place carrying hopes, with in particular the installation of the Dupont-hinge. Ntamack.
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The hinge no longer squeaks
They are only 21 and 23 years old but, already, the whole rugby planet has its eyes on them: Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont have successfully settled in the French midfield.
"They are very comfortable in the animation, they took a lot of maturity during this competition. They have had a denser experience. And they end, like the whole team, with a feeling of progress, of success, "said coach Fabien Galthié, who was also" very satisfied "with his 100% Toulouse duo.
With tumbles, magnificent breakthroughs and success at the foot, the two Toulouse accomplices, in full confidence, have (re) taken the game of the Blues in hand.
"With joy", according to Galthié.
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Winning bets
By installing Charles Ollivon, almost unknown, as captain, Fabien Galthié made a strong choice.
A few months later, the Toulonnais put on the costume fully.
He proves it on the ground: with 4 tries, 25 balls won in touch and 77 tackles in the Tournament, the boss is Ollivon.
Alongside the indispensable Gregory Alldritt and the precious François Cros, they form an almost impassable wall.
The coach of the Blues also relied on neophytes who were able to respond: the center Arthur Vincent, former captain of the U20 world champions, settled in the group as the back Anthony Bouthier, former mason passed by the Federal 1.
The winger Vincent Rattez or the pillar Mohamed Haouas have also revealed themselves.
Longer awaited, Racing 92 blaster Virimi Vakatawa has shown that he is the best center in the world at the moment.
The duo he forms with Gaël Fickou is formidable, as well as the 100% South African second line with Bernard Le Roux and Paul Willemse.
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Lead in the wings
We were expecting Teddy Thomas and Damian Penaud.
In nine months, the Clermontois will have played only one match in Blue.
He certainly scored a try, against Scotland, but he mostly missed all the other meetings because of injuries (to a calf then to an ankle).
The Racingman, for his part, alternated between the good and the less good, to the point of being dismissed after an hour of play in Cardiff and being banned from traveling to Murrayfield.
Returning from confinement, he too missed Ireland on Saturday with an injury.
Behind, the staff of the Blues has often favored the center Gaël Fickou rather than a professional winger.
With Arthur Retière, Gervais Cordin, Lester Etien, Gabin Villière or Gabriel Ngandebe ... the French reservoir seems interesting but not inexhaustible.
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Indiscipline
Penalized 45 times (including 14 against Ireland), the Blues have often been heckled.
Even if this indiscipline reflects an impressive commitment, Fabien Galthié had to suffocate more than once seeing his XV of France "sometimes at the limit", as Fickou admits.
The return of French flair, promised by many observers, will wait a bit.
The arabesques of Dupont, the gestures of Vakatawa or the inspirations of Ntamack are above all put at the service of a collective.
"We have a fairly close-knit team, with enormous cohesion. We have to continue like this. What has been our strength from the start is that we don't take ourselves for others. We continue to work. ", admitted the pillar Cyril Baille.
As Fabien Galthié promises: "This is only the beginning!"
© 2020 AFP