Rejuvenated as rarely, the XV of France by Fabien Galthié enters the campaign in the Six Nations tournament, Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Stade de France, against the English, vice-world champions, and their promise of an intense and violent fight . Three months after a World Cup-2019 ended in the quarter-finals against Wales (20-19), the Blues launch a new cycle: with a new coach, a new captain, Charles Ollivon, and their 100% Toulouse hinge Antoine Dupont-Romain Ntamack but without the explosive wing Damian Penaud, last minute package.
This Crunch will also be a sacred baptism for the two Montpellier residents Anthony Bouthier and Mohamed Haouas, sent to the fire in a context tense by the war of words orchestrated by Eddie Jones. The coach of the XV de la Rose assured that he had not come to France "to have a cup of tea", a few days after having promised hell to the Blues.
"France can expect total and absolute brutality from England. We come to be sure that they understand what it means, rugby," said the Australian technician, always prompt to press the right buttons while the XV de la Rose finishes serving the "Saracens affair" which poisons English rugby.
But Jones probably did not forget the World Cup final, lost to the South Africans (32-12), after an intense physical fight.
Put an end to the "encouraging defeats"
The English impotence three months ago in the face of the suffocating power of the Springboks will no doubt have given ideas to the staff of the Blues.
It is not innocent, therefore, if Fabien Galthié and his assistants said they wanted to "find a scary pack" during the two weeks of "high intensity" preparation in Nice.
The front five, recomposed, and in particular the first Baille-Marchand-Haouas line (19 cumulative selections!) Must however rise to the height of the English, determined to wash away the affront suffered in the final of the Japanese World Cup.
But the French are also on a mission: beyond the memory of the beating of Twickenham (44-8) a year ago, they dream of turning the page on the World Cup, and especially to start a virtuous cycle, far from the "encouraging defeats" of the previous era. For that, they can count on the young guard, led by the Dupont-Ntamack hinge.
Fail replace Penaud, package
Provided to respond present in the fight promised by Eddie Jones, and to resist the opposing shelling at the foot, the XV of France has some advantages in its sleeve, with the creators Fickou and Vakatawa in the center, and the finisher Thomas in the wing .
This three-quarter line, however, lost a considerable advantage with the Penaud package. The young Clermont winger (23, 16 caps) felt muscle discomfort in training on Saturday at the Stade de France and will be replaced by Vincent Rattez (27, 3 caps). The latter will be replaced on the bench by Montpellier Arthur Vincent, who celebrates at 20 his first selection.
"We will not be favorites," admits Dupont. "They are the last finalists in the World Cup and, over the past few years, they have fared better than us, but we will have good qualities to oppose them," adds number 9.
What he dreads among the English? "It's a well-established team, which has been running for several years together. It is well organized, with the same coach and a relatively stable group. So they may have a little more benchmarks than us but we know it will be a match very hard anyway, "predicts the scrum half.
But this XV of France virgin of any experience can count on his carelessness when approaching the "Crunch". Thanks to some certainties, a high intensity preparation, marked by the use of data, GPS data and timed sequences? Or is it the brand of youth in a XV which displays a little over 25 years and 14 selections of average? Response in a few hours.
With AFP
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