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Despite some disturbing empty passages, the French team had no trouble dominating a weak Italian selection on Friday (August 30th) (47-19) for its last test-match before the list of 31 players selected for the French Cup. world in Japan (September 20th-November 2nd). The Blues have not raised the doubts that accompany them.
The test-match series ends on a positive note. After defeating Scotland, then losing to Scotland, the XV de France won against France at the Stade de France on the score of 47-19, Friday, August 30. Two wins and one defeat so: the balance looks on the bright side, but the impression remains mixed.
A big score that does not hide everything
In front of very sparse stands - only 25,000 to 30,000 spectators in a stadium that can contain 80,000 - Jacques Brunel's men entered the floor with a first try in the first minutes signed Yoann Huget, not transformed by Romain Ntamack. A promising start to the match but spoiled by a big empty run of the Blues, which have multiplied errors, mistakes and allowed Italy to take the advantage. Add to that the successive yellow cards of Louis Picamoles and Rabah Slimani, and you have the portrait of a selection without landmarks.
Fortunately, France reacted with a penalty test and another signed Camille Chat. After the break, Antoine Dupont and Arthur Itturia allowed the Blues to take off, with in addition a Roman Ntamack effective in his set pieces. The Azzurri are still in contact and Jake Polledri took advantage of an amorphous defense to put doubts in the machine tricolor. Same observation for the second and last test of Bellini. The tests of Romain Raofifénua and Thomas Ramos just inflated the score.
More settings before challenging Argentina
A last paradoxical match for the France team. At three days of the final list of 31 globalists, the XV of France showed a good state of mind but was indiscipline. The players were unanimous at the end of the meeting: before entering fully into the World Cup with a strong meeting against Argentina on September 21, there are still settings to make and room to progress.
In front of an Italy far from counting among the best selections of the world, France dominated without crushing, showing especially its qualities in attack and counter-attack in defense. The level of the Blues remains a source of concern at three weeks of the international meeting where they will cross the road of selections much better armed. In 2015, the doubts were about the same, and this resulted in a defeat against Ireland, then a beating against New Zealand. The XV of France still has a little time to grow the few good points to draw from his test matches.