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The French team was mistreated by Tonga but managed to keep its lead on the scoreboard to win in its penultimate group match of the World Cup in Japan (23-21). The Blues are qualified for the quarterfinals, despite a mixed performance.
The first contract is filled. The XV of France is in the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup 2019 . This simple look offers a positive reading of this Sunday, October 6th. At Kumamoto Stadium, Japan, the Blues validated their ticket for the next round by beating Tonga (23-21). But to look more closely, there is not really enough to show a frank optimism.
The ideal start before the eclipse
After the victories won against Argentina (23-21) and against the United States (33-9), the Blues played their qualification for the quarterfinals against Ikale Tahi (the Eagles of the seas), the team the lowest ranked of Pool C. And very quickly, the match turned in favor of France.
A convincing opening match with a first try scored by Virimi Vakatawa, after a good work by Alivereti Raka on a fast attack (6th). The same Raka, in the end, widened the gap later himself, alternating race along the sideline and footwork (32nd). With the accuracy of Romain Ntamack at the foot, the France team then led 17-0.
But a guilty slump allowed Tonga to return before the break with a test, validated by the video, and a transformation for Tane Takalua just before the break.
End of tense match
The half did not allow the Blues to regain their spirits. On the contrary, their opponents took the opportunity to come back with even more envy. And the French, a little lost, have cracked a second time. Too wait, Maxime Medard was trapped by a rebound and Malietoa Hingano took the opportunity to flatten in turn behind the goal line (47th). With the transformation, Tonga returned then very strong (17-14).
For lack of new test and realism (two tries refused to Charles Ollivon and Damian Penaud, each time because of in-front), France caught its breath through two penalties Ntamack. It needed at least that to compensate for the lack of French and Tongan return.
At the end of the meeting, a thrill ran through the tricolor camp when Zane Kapeli, found on foot over the defense of the Blues, scored the third try (79). With the transformation, the XV of France felt the breath of Tonga in his neck, but he did not scuttled in the last seconds (23-21).
" We suffered again "
It is therefore a very narrow victory for the French team, with fewer trials than the opponent (two against three) and a disappointing performance. At the microphone of TF1, the coach Jacques Brunel did not hide it: " We suffered again. We start the game well, we miss many opportunities to widen the gap, we magnify three or four test possibilities and we tense. There were twitches, mistakes. We can not control at the beginning of the second period. "
The coach now wants to take advantage of the week to " put some order back ". Certainly, France is already qualified for the quarter-finals. " I hope it will free us ," says Brunel. But Saturday, October 12, it will be another story for the last match of Pool C against the formidable England. This match will determine who will finish first and second in the group.
Then, it will be time to move on to even more serious things with the quarterfinal display, either facing Wales or facing Australia. Opponents who are, like England, of a different caliber than the United States or Tonga ...