First convincing for the Blues by Fabien Galthié. At the opening of the Six Nations tournament, the XV of France offered the scalp of England, vice-world champion and favorite of the competition. A success that validates the strong choices of the new coach, who aligned, Sunday, February 2 at the Stade de France, one of the youngest selections in the history of the tournament in the blue jersey.

Disciplined, solid in defense during their weak times, the Blues went to seek victory thanks to a very good first half, concluded 17 to 0 thanks to tests by Vincent Rattez (7-0, 6th) and of captain Charles Ollivon (17-0, 20th). Stung in the heat, destabilized like an Owen Farrell far from his standards at the opening, the English believed to return to the score at the start of the second act after eight minutes of possession in the 22 French, but even cornered, the French defense each time managed to return the game to the English side.

And on a new skirmish - a magnificent tumble of Antoine Dupont on the left - the Blues even gave the Stade de France the opportunity to exult again, just before the hour of play. The half scrum of Stade Toulousain, after tearing the first opposing curtain, perfectly served Ollivon who took out the canes to offer a resounding double (24-0, 54th).

May, bright but insufficient

Three minutes later, the English still managed to unlock their counter, making perfect use of a situation on the closed side. On a long kick, Jonny May beat Jefferson Poirot then Teddy Thomas in the race, to flatten in the start (24-7, 56th).

More and more dominated over the minutes, in particular in close fray, the French suffered until the end. Last link of a surplus on the right side, Jonny May has once again made lightning speak by piercing the blue defense, to give the XV of the Rose to ten points (24-14, 65th).

Cornered in their 22 meters, the men of Fabien Galthié suffered until the end, even taking a final penalty (24-17, 82nd). But with balloons scratched in defense and at the cost of a discipline of all times, the Blues still preserved the essential: a victory against the English ogre, while hell was predicted. Instead of the place of the furnace, the XV of France was offered a small afternoon in paradise.

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