Alldritt, author of an essay against Italy - Thibault Camus / AP / SIPA

At the Stade de France,

An inaugural success of prestige against England, Italy which was slapped against Wales, all the ingredients were gathered, it was thought, so that France offers an easy success against the Squadra for continue to dominate the Tournament. Those who swear by the numbers will tell you that it did. An improved victory (35-22) and a comfortable lead of 13 points, we wouldn't see what to worry about if it was another team. Except that, no luck, it was the worst of the nations of the tournament that swayed Fabien Galthié's group.

In the middle of the first period, first, by allowing the Italians to return to three lengths, then from the start of the second. We think back to 2019, to our plastic title of world champions at the start of the match and holders of the worst epilogues, and we tell ourselves that this relaxation is undoubtedly a fatality, something inherent in these blistering starts where everyone is rushing in choir on the ball carrier. Invalid theory. There was no release, swears Gregory Alldritt in the mixed zone. Tiredness, a little more.

"We were cooler than against the English, here we were, we had a big game against the English, we had a great week of training that was necessary. "

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It could have seemed like a good excuse if everyone did not agree that the overall performance was episodically bad, Fabien Galthié first. “In the second period, we lacked consistency, the team was jostled by Italy. […] At times, we were less consistent than against England on this defensive level. They were sometimes let in the curtain. From the moment you start to back off, you put yourself in danger from the offside line. "

The Blues brave the storm to master Italy and scrape the bonus via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/7SzeF0n71A

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On the defensive aspect, we can deplore the legendary passivity of Teddy Thomas, whom we almost want to see being associated one day with Raka to finish games with eight registered tries and six conceded. Or the almost non-existent contribution of the bench (Bamba cuckoo, Jeff Poirot cuckoo). But at the end of the day, we can also say that the hassle of the second period would never have existed without this mini-turn in the 41st. Cyril Baille:

“We have this action where we find ourselves near the lines and then we take a counter which makes us a little headache. We just have to be cooler and more lucid. "

More serene to avoid the sequences where the oval turns into a hot potato and a posteriori as gifts for the opponents. We think of the multiple keys badly negotiated. "This is what needs to be improved," analyzes Alldritt. Keep the cursor high collectively but also each on its own. It's details, it's a lift, a timing, a throw, a tackle, a silly mistake. We have to keep the cursor high and we will manage to erase these errors easily. "

Three days off before attacking Wales

This cursor will obviously have to be reconnected on the same channel as against England for the next trip to Wales. Charles Ollivon is even convinced that this booster shot is beneficial and intervenes at the best time. Passing 50 to the Italians and then lowering the guard at the Millennium Stadium would have been THE bad idea. “Our strength is to question ourselves. We are aware of having had some air holes so we are going to work on it, we want to progress, ”reassures Baille.

Before going back to the coal, the Toulousain and his friends will be able to enjoy three days of rest, just to recharge batteries well started by the crunch and the famous high-intensity training. "We are going to rest, enjoy the family a little, the holidays, because it has been a bit intense these past few days. It's going to be short, we only have three days so I'm just going to be with my family and take advantage of to have a fat sleep. ' All of this with great satisfaction: for the first time since 2016, France has had two successes in the Tournament. And for the first time in ages, she dominates it alone after two days. Everything is going so well that we almost forget where this team comes from.

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