The XV of France won against Ireland at the Stade de France after a game with twists and turns (30-24).
Last team in the running for the Grand Slam, the France team must now negotiate three complicated matches, including two in a row outside (Scotland and Wales).
The Grand Slam is still a long way off, but the Blues have the arguments to go all the way.
At the Stade de France,
Official priority for the next two weeks, with avoiding war in Ukraine?
Deflate us boulardes of journalist supporters and not shout at the Grand Slam too soon.
We know the story, and the general level of the tournament, apart from these poor Italian devils, does not yet encourage the bamboche of the century, since the three games that come are quite poor in one way or another. .
But all the same: France is the last unbeaten team of this tournament and the best placed to win, even without a Grand Slam.
That's why we believe in it, after having passed Ireland at the 1.000 spin.
Because Jaminet's boot
OK, the beautiful hidalgo from Perpignan went a little through on the high balls in the first half, especially on the cap test of (Mikkel) Hansen.
But then what taulier when it comes to enquiller strikes.
Only one failure in nine attempts, which surprised everyone in the stands as they are so rare with him, but then for the rest, Melvyn is really our sure foot.
Even at 50 meters, the rear of the Blues is able to send praloche without giving the impression of forcing.
From follower memory, it's been a long time since we had a 90% scorer for a decade.
Because our physical intensity
“We knew they were going to make war on us in the rucks, we expected it, and we responded even if they stole a few balls from us”.
Thibaut Flament said it all.
Faced with the best team in the world when it is fought on the ground, the French team was capable of a ferocity on impact that we did not know it, even scraping three penalties in this sector before the break.
The brute force of our stalwarts, as in Baille's try, Jelonch's 16 tackles, the yards gained by Aldritt in tribute to the Superbowl, and the activity of Cros, were remarkable: "We knew that Ireland kept a lot of balls, and when you let them impose their rhythm, they are really dangerous, summed up the latter.
It went through a big fight on the ground game.
Fight won on points, like Francis Ngannou.
Aspen Murrayfield.
Because our discipline
“Six penalties conceded I think, is that it guys?
".
Fabien Galthié did not have an answer to his raise right away, but it was because the coach wanted to do his bit.
Despite the truly amazing physical dimension of this match, the Blues were only penalized seven times, ie 50% fewer faults than against the Italians at the start.
A report that corresponds more to the standards required to win a tournament.
Galthié always:
“Penalties are the consequences of a behavior.
It's part of our training during the week, with a referee accompanying us on everything.
We are still working on the rule with Jérôme Garcès, his pedagogy accompanies us in defense and attack.
We found a good regulation in a very special match.
Because the French flair of our hinge
In the fall, it was Romain Ntamack's fiery relaunch from the bottom of the in-goal to overthrow a match that smelled of fir.
This time.
A touch quickly played after 30 seconds of play by Antoine Dupont, when we were barely warm.
The following ?
A sweep from left to right as at the hairdresser, then a surplus well felt by the son of Milou who found his club partner inside with a rather insane blind pass.
Seven points in a jiffy, and bland explanation from the best player in the world: “Nobody scored Romain on the sidelines, so we weren't going to wait!
We all wanted to stretch our legs, which is good is that everyone followed.
Simple, right?
France strike first... #FRAvIRE #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/EwcWn0QCK6
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 12, 2022
Because the grinta de Villière
A tough match for wingers with wide open desires, just the opposite of last week.
But no matter, Gabin Villière finds his bowl in all the little pleasures of life.
A candle to receive, a blow of helmet to give in a maul, a rear to push in the Seine, the Toulon winger, mixture of Clerc and Dominici transmits his rage and his character to all his teammates.
Superb anecdote from Galthié in post-match conf.
"During the presentation of the jerseys, an important moment for us, because we want to celebrate each milestone, Gabin said, "I'm going to be there, you'll see, I'm going to animate the war.
Actions followed.
He makes promises to his friends, he keeps them.
With Gabin to the end of the world.
Because we are perfectible
One wonders how at this level one can take such a test.
Dismiss the Irish in agony after six minutes (10-0), then Jaminet and Penaud who look at each other in bewilderment and let Hansen slip away on trial.
In all, four dismissals after scoring will be badly negotiated by the Blues, giving the Irish opportunities to pick up from a crumb.
“On the first, it was a careless error, we thought they were going to hit the other side, remembers François Cros.
On the second, we recover the ball but we are not effective in support.
It's ten gift points that put them back in the game.
A copy-paste of the Blacks there too, which proves that the France team does not control everything, far from it, and that it can still improve its management of weak times.
Because it's the Irish who say so
Always surprising to read the dithyrambic comments of the Anglo-Saxon press about us, we are not used to it.
If Andy Farrell was satisfied with a "Well done and congratulations to them", recalling that the Blues had just done their job in their two home games, our colleagues from the
Irish Times
were much less reserved: "The Ireland fell on stronger than her.
The French will certainly be champions next month.
Their combination of ball-in-hand, flower, and fly ball talent is pretty special."
Matt Williams with the right perspective here.
Ireland had more possession (54v46), more meters gained (613v558), 3 tries v 2.
Yes it's a loss, but there's a lot of good things to build on.#FRAvIRL@theirishpost @IrishPostSport https://t.co/ 94nodfA4sO
— Anthony McLaughlin (@Ant_McLaughlin) February 12, 2022
Another for the road?
Signed Matt Williams, renowned ex-coach, consultant for the broadcaster in Dublin: "I know all the players are devastated, but they just played the best team in the world at home and they came very close to coming back without Sexton" .
It would be stupid to disappoint all these beautiful people in a month, don't you think?
Sport
France-Ireland: The Blues can still dream of the Grand Slam, relive their magical victory in Saint-Denis (30-24)
Sport
France-Ireland: The favorite Blues of the Six Nations Tournament even for the Anglo-Saxons, "everyone loves this team"
Antoine Dupont
Fabien Galthie
Romain Ntamack
Ireland
XV of France
Sport
Rugby
6 Nations
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