Dublin (AFP)

Sharp in his tackles, captain Charles Ollivon also paved the way for the success of the XV of France in Ireland on Sunday with his opportunism in attack and his ability to break the opposing line of defense.

29th minute of play: the Blues suffocated by the pressure of the XV of Clover and reduced to fourteen after the temporary exclusion of Bernard Le Roux, manage to open a breach.

After a good construction from right to left, Gaël Fickou serves Ollivon who, lonely, rushes towards the end.

One action, one try and the French team goes ahead to score against the course of the game. Difficult to do better in terms of realism.

For his 20th selection, the third line Toulon signs his eighth try.

He had already registered four in the 2020 edition of the Tournament demonstrating his skill as a "franchiser".

And his patience too.

Because the French captain knows how to be forgotten and be placed in the right place at the right time while respecting the game plan desired by the management of the Blues.

Without neglecting the defensive tasks.

"Charles has the role of a lane joker. He knows how to use his speed potential and can unleash his power. He has found his place in the organization. We are entitled to think that this organization allows to use the potential of Charles" , had explained the coach Fabien Galthié about his captain during the autumn tests.

Realistic at the outposts, the Basque colossus of the RCT (1.99 m, 113 kg) was also distinguished by his activity in defense: 11 tackles in the first period alone, despite a ball returned to the opponent for flat.

Ireland is doing well for him.

On October 31, at the Stade de France, he had already made 20 tackles, finishing second in this sector, behind the N.8 of the Blues Grégory Alldritt (23).

"We know the harshness of the Irish so obviously, it will be a big test," warned the 27-year-old, who had asserted himself in Blue at the 2019 World Cup after convincing the staff to take him to Japan .

An almost unexpected outcome for the one who was said to have lost to rugby a year earlier.

Because an operation, for a fractured scapula, had made him live a white 2017-2018 season.

- Miraculous return -

The coach at the time, Jacques Brunel, had recognized it himself: "The presence of Charles Ollivon is miraculous."

Then the former Bayonnais, once relaunched, turned into a leader in the field.

To the point of being bombarded captain when Galthié took over the controls of the French vessel at the end of 2019.

Precious in the field, the former Bayonne player is also in the life of the group.

He knows how to prick his partners, motivate them or braid them praise when it comes to handing over the jersey of the 60th selection to the center Gaël Fickou, the most capped of this young team of France (25 and a half years of average of age).

"Charles was a good captain, he discovered something that is not simple, we supported him well, he learned a lot, I saw him evolve, grow during these seven weeks. He was at the height of the mission, like the whole of the France group, "Galthié told L'Equipe newspaper when the question of renewing his captaincy arose last year.

It is on track to last.

© 2021 AFP