There will no longer be any need to dust off the archives of world rugby to unearth the longest winning streak in the history of the France team.

She had already chained ten in the distant past, but the context of the time does not lend itself to comparisons.

Excluded from the Five Nations Tournament for violence and professionalism, between 1931 and 1937 it had weak Germany as its main opponent (eight of the ten successes).

Antoine Dupont and his teammates have almost faced for a year all that is best on the oval planet, from New Zealand, beaten in style last fall (40-25), to the best European nations, discarded one by one in the Tournament in the spring on the road to a first Grand Slam since 2010.

Sheepish, the spark

Despite two World Cups to their name (1991 and 1999), Australia, third in the recent Rugby Championship against other key nations in the Southern Hemisphere, is not quite an international reference today.

Winger Damian Penaud, ball in hand, allowed the French rugby team to win against Australia (30-29) on Saturday November 5, 2022 at the Stade de France (Saint-Denis), during the first autumn test-match of the Blues Geoffroy VAN DER HASSELT AFP

But this monster of inconstancy, a week after suffering to overcome Scotland (16-15), has long managed to thwart the "premium" French team, which had not played together for eight month.

Coach Fabien Galthié had said during the week that he feared the last twenty minutes of the Wallabies.

Rather, it was in the top twenty that his men suffered the most.

Having just returned to competition, Cyril Baille was penalized for entering the fray.

A try from Charles Ollivon was logically refused for a double movement on the ground and the Australians scored against in stride by the former Bayonne center three-quarter Lalakai Foketi (13-6, 18th).

Flu, the "Chelemards" relied on the effective foot of Thomas Ramos (seven out of nine) to stay in contact before taking the lead at the break thanks to the first try in selection of Julien Marchand, in force, following a decisive counter-ruck (19-13).

A try from the back Jock Campbell, for his first tenure, put the Wallabies back in front (22-23) until a personal feat from the inevitable Penaud.

Make way for the Springboks

Ten months from the World Cup at home, these Blues steeped in character can no longer hide: they will be one of the big favorites.

South African Franco Mostert (centre) is congratulated by his partners after scoring a try, ultimately in vain, during the defeat of his team against Ireland (19-16), at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, on November 5, 2022 PAUL FAITH AFP

A status that they assume over the successes with more and more confidence despite their young age (26 and a half years on average on the match sheet), that their maturity sometimes tends to make us forget.

They will have the opportunity next Saturday in the warm atmosphere of the Vélodrome de Marseille to mark their territory a little more against the only major nation they have not yet faced - and therefore beaten - since the start of the era. Galthié: South Africa, world champion, fell to Ireland (19-16) on Saturday.

They would then come a little closer to the world record of 18 victories in a row co-held by New Zealand since 2016 and England the following year.

On condition of continuing against Japan on November 20 in Toulouse and achieving a new Grand Slam in the Tournament.

Chick?

© 2022 AFP