The Blues, world No.2 and winners of the Six Nations Tournament, will face a double challenge: Japan, their opponent whom they are facing for the first time since Fabien Galthié took control of the team, as well as heat and humidity, which will inevitably have an impact on the game.

Especially since the Brave Blossoms remain mysterious.

Since their World Cup-2019, finished with fanfare in the quarter-finals, the Japanese have played only eight matches - against 25 for the Blues at the same time - and only three victories against Portugal (38-25) and Uruguay (34-15 and 43-7).

But the French will also not have forgotten that their last match against the Cherry Blossoms ended in a pitiful draw (23-23) in November 2017.

The men of Galthié also have the opportunity to write their history.

With eight successes in a row, the Blues of 2022 are doing as well as their predecessors (February-November 1998, November 2001-April 2002 and February-November 2004).

But less well than the November 1986-June 1987 generation, led by Serge Blanco, Philippe Sella, Denis Charvet, Didier Cambérabéro, Pierre Berbizier... who had chained ten matches without defeat (including a draw).

Whatever happens on Saturday, they will stay away from the New Zealand leaders (18 wins between August 2015 and October 2016), England (18 wins between October 2015 and March 2017), South Africa (17 wins between August 1997 and November 1998 ) or Welsh (14 wins between March 2018 and March 2019).

The XV of Japan in training in Toyota City, July 1, 2022, on the eve of the first of its two test matches against France Charly TRIBALLEAU AFP

"Showing our qualities"

The young troop, led by the returning captain, Charles Ollivon, intends to continue with a new success against the Brave Blossoms, their fourth in five confrontations.

The coach of the XV of France Fabien Galthié during a press briefing, in Nagoya, on June 30, 2022 for the announcement of the XV which will face Japan Charly TRIBALLEAU AFP

"This record was mentioned the previous week. This team has a somewhat special history and we all want to create it on this tour, to continue to maintain this French team at the highest level, to show our qualities, to give everything on the field," Ollivon told AFP.

If the executives Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack or Grégory Alldritt have been left to rest after a long season, the Blues from the end of the world can rely on a certain number of familiar faces.

In the starting XV, they are indeed ten to have participated in the conquest of the Grand Slam this winter: the Toulousains Thibaud Flament, Peato Mauvaka and Matthis Lebel -for a short minute-, the Lyonnais Dylan Cretin and Demba Bamba, the Bordelo -Béglais Maxime Lucu and Yoram Moefana, the Clermontois Damian Penaud, the Perpignanais Melvyn Jaminet and the Toulonnais Jean-Baptiste Gros.

A group of leaders to which must be added the center of Racing 92 Virimi Vakatawa or the opener of the UBB Matthieu Jalibert, absent from the Six Nations Tournament due to injury.

“We know that some players are on rest, we don't forget them, we will all meet again in the fall. But here too, there are experienced players. We have to rely on them. there is not a guy who speaks and everyone who listens. Everyone brings their vision of things," Ollivon told AFP.

two rookies

In short, the Blues on tour in Asia are not blues, apart from the third line of Racing 92 Yoan Tanga and the second line of UBB Thomas Jolmes, who will experience their first international cap.

What to see coming?

Not sure.

"Japan is a team that is improving," warns manager Raphaël Ibanez.

"It's a team that plays exciting rugby, full of energy. A team that presents players who have a sense of sacrifice, who know how to push their limits," adds the former hooker.

The third row of Racing Yoan Tanga close to the try line against Biarritz in the Top 14 in Nanterre, April 24, 2022 Emmanuel DUNAND AFP / Archives

"By studying the opponent, we saw his offensive qualities, his qualities of animation... even if against Uruguay, in the last match, they changed strategy. We did not really find what "We had studied, they played differently. It's a team that has defensive qualities, especially in the ground game. They perform well with or without the ball," added Fabien Galthié.

Beware of falling.

© 2022 AFP