Edinburgh (AFP)

France's XV grand slam dream was shattered in Edinburgh.

Eight months later, the Blues returned to Murrayfield stadium, in a different context but with the objective of making people forget this difficult experience, Sunday (4:15 p.m.) during the Autumn Nations Cup.

The setback conceded on March 8 in the Six Nations Tournament (28-17), to the sound of bagpipes and in front of a fervent audience, remains the only one for Fabien Galthié since he took the helm of the tricolor after the World Cup 2019.

Nothing had worked that day for the Blues who had lost the thread of their game and suffered "hazards" as recalled the N.8 of Scottish origin Gregory Alldritt.

Injury to hooker Camille Chat during warm-up, early yellow card for third row François Cros, concussion after eight minutes for opener Romain Ntamack and red card before the break for right pillar Mohamed Haouas, guilty of a blow punch on Jamie Ritchie ...

Charles Ollivon and his partners, who had so far remained on three successes, against England, vice-world champion (24-17), Italy (35-22) and Wales (27-23), had fallen from a height.

With hindsight, this setback without the defensive bonus cost them above all the victory in the Tournament, narrowly won by the XV de la Rose.

Sunday, there will be no spectators, health context requires, and this competition, brand new, does not have the standing of the Tournament.

Despite everything, the Blues are determined to storm a stadium that has become a fortress for them.

They have not won there since March 2014 and remain on four defeats there.

And of the three defeats conceded, in total, since August 2019, two have come from Scotland, as the three-quarter coach Laurent Labit rightly recalled during the week.

The XV du Chardon is not part of the crème de la crème at the international level (7th in the world ranking, France 4th) but it continues to improve.

By reversing a badly started situation in front of Italy (28-17), last Saturday, the men of Gregor Townsend signed a fifth victory in a row in all competitions.

And this, without their two best openers, Racingman Finn Russell and Adam Hastings, both injured and forfeited for the entire Fall Nations Cup.

In this series, Scotland, in addition to France, offered a victory to Wales (14-10), a first since 2002.

- Adapt to all scenarios -

But the French are confident.

Their beginning of autumn was marked by very convincing successes against the Welsh (38-21), in preparation, and against Ireland (35-27) during the Tournament.

They have, of course, not played since October 31 since the match against Fiji, scheduled for last Sunday in Vannes, was canceled after a massive contagion with the new coronavirus within the selection of the Pacific.

However, the lack of competition does not worry the French who worked this week at Marcoussis outnumbered phases to adapt to all scenarios.

Galthié made eight changes from the game against Ireland, due to injuries but also to reward the usual substitutes.

In order to compensate for the package of Ntamack (thigh), he entrusted the keys to the opening to Matthieu Jalibert, who has played his first match since last winter and is experiencing his first tenure since 2018.

Unconvincing at Murrayfield in March after entering the game, the Bordeaux this time "the chance to start", said Galthié.

"This is what he wanted, too. It is the time of Matthieu Jalibert", insisted the coach who appointed the back Thomas Ramos as "scorer".

This should allow Jalibert "to focus on his role as a pivotal player, on the offensive and on the defensive level", explained Galthié.

And to guide his team to a first success in Edinburgh for more than six years.

© 2020 AFP