Gaël Fickou with Brice Dulin and Arthur Vincent during France-Wales, March 19, 2021. -

JEE / SIPA

Commando atmosphere in Marcoussis this week.

After the victory snatched in stoppage time against Wales last Saturday, the XV of France now knows what remains to be done to win the VI Nations Tournament: beat Scotland with the offensive bonus and more 20 point difference on Friday.

The challenge is up, and there is a little time to prepare for this meeting.

But before talking about battle plans and abandonment (or not) of the dispossession game, it is advisable to concentrate at the beginning of the week on the purpose of this meeting: to win a title, finally.

It is "the old" Gaël Fickou who brought the subject to the table Tuesday at a press conference.

The three-quarter center, only 26 years old but who started for the France team almost eight years ago, has known a lot with the Blues.

Mostly frustration.

“In previous years, we have lost a lot.

It was not easy, but today we are winning again.

Going for a title, that would represent something huge, ”recalled the Stade Français player.

Do not disturb the arrow of time

It will be 11 years now that the Blues of rugby have won nothing.

An eternity, especially with a Tournament every year.

It is even the first in their history, since the post-war period, that this has happened to them.

After failing on the points difference in the last edition (because of a defeat in Scotland, by the way), France cannot be satisfied with the same fate.

It's time to win.

The 2023 World Cup is fast approaching, and in its construction, this team must know what victory is.

This is also, since his enthronement, the meaning of Fabien Galthié's speech with his famous “arrow of time” supposed to mark out the team's route to the World Cup at home.

"We strongly believe that we are going to become a major nation in world rugby again because we are going to win matches, titles, quickly," said the coach when he took office at the end of 2019. The matches are all about it. is done, with in passing a clearly defined identity and players who have been able to settle.

The first title, on the other hand, is long overdue.

Even the Fall Cup, a few months ago, escaped the Blues, after a thrilling battle but lost at Twickenham.

“For young players, it's important.

But for me who lived with the older generation, too, added Fickou.

We've been waiting for this for a very long time.

“Against Scotland, the challenge promises to be complicated, but in this Tournament the Blues are no longer close.

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