Six Nations tournament: France wins in Ireland for the first time in ten years
The players of the XV of France relieved after their victory in Ireland (13-15), February 14, 2021. © Pool via REUTERS - BRIAN LAWLESS
Text by: Tom Rossi Follow
3 min
The XV of France won in pain in Ireland (13-15), this Sunday, February 14, during the second day of the Six Nations Tournament.
This is the first time since 2011 that the Blues have left Dublin with a victory.
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A week after their Roman walk (50-10
victory
) in Italy, the Blues fell into a completely different opposition this Sunday, February 14 in Dublin, despite the absence of the Irish captain Jonathan Sexton, who went out on concussion last weekend at the Wales (lost 21-16).
Manhandled, penalized several times and reduced to 14 for ten minutes, the XV of France showed a cold realism in the first period to take control.
On their first foray into the Irish 22 meters, the Blues scored the first try of the meeting thanks to captain Charles Ollivon, served by Gaël Fickou (28th).
A class action carried out outnumbered: when we sting these young Blues, they respond.
It is perhaps the little extra of this generation that leads to the break (3-10).
And it is well paid.
The Blues tremble until the end
Back from the locker room, Fabien Galthié's men think they have done the hardest with Damian Penaud's corner try after an excellent job by Brice Dulin (3-15, 55th).
But Ireland, even recovering (two defeats in the last four matches), rebels and gives chills to the Blues drafts thanks to a converted test from Kelleher (57th) and a penalty from Byrne (65th, 13-15).
Matthieu Jalibert could have blown this French team but the opener was not successful this Sunday, February 14 in Dublin: three missed penalties (including a post) out of five attempts.
This is of no consequence for a XV of France who clenched his teeth at the end of the game but won for the ninth time in eleven games since the arrival of Fabien Galthié.
Above all, the Blues put an end to ten years of famine in Ireland before facing Scotland, the next step in their quest for the trophy, on February 28.
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