A tenth victory to finish!

The XV of France, long jostled, won its tenth consecutive match, Saturday July 9, in Tokyo, in front of Japan (20-15), ending the season undefeated, a first in the history of the Blues.

Thanks to tries from Matthis Lebel (9th) and Baptiste Couilloud (71st), France, which will organize the Rugby World Cup in 2023, therefore has a tenth victory in a row, setting a record in the modern era.

This is the best French record since a series of ten successes, including eight against Germany, established between 1931 and 1937.

Fabien Galthié's men have not lost since a setback in Australia (33-30) on July 17, 2021.

>> "Rugby: the Blues beat New Zealand after twelve years of scarcity"

Almost a year later, Argentina (29-20), Georgia (41-15), the All Blacks (40-25), Italy (37-10), Ireland (30-24), Scotland (36-17), Wales (13-9), England (25-13) and Japan (42-23) in turn came up against the XV of France.

More anecdotally, the Blues won their first summer series since 2006 and a trip to modest Romania (62-14), then to South Africa (36-26).

Just over a year from the 2023 World Cup at home and a few months after the Grand Slam, it's reassuring for Fabien Galthié and his staff.

Especially since the Blues on tour at the end of the world had come to Japan without their usual executives, Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Grégory Alldritt or Gaël Fickou … left to rest.

But, like a week ago at Toyota, the XV of France was heckled, even downright asphyxiated, by the Brave Blossoms.

No downside 

More enterprising, more disciplined, the Japanese simply took advantage of the tricolor inaccuracies to take the lead, carried by their will-o'-the-wisp, the rear Ryohei Yamanaka author of two tries (12th, 40th).

Nothing seemed to want to go in the French direction: the scrum half Maxime Lucu foiled, the second line Thomas Jolmès did not roar, the young fullback Max Spring sometimes badly defended... even the French alignment, so overbearing a week ago, seemed below his level.

Fortunately, these Blues from the end of the world have also proven that they have resources, like a conquering Thibaud Flament, an omnipresent Damian Penaud, a clever Baptiste Couilloud...

They also had a bit of luck when third row Tevita Tatafu was denied a try by video five minutes from time.

"It was harsh, very hard: the Japanese caused us a lot of problems. We suffered, they took us to a very high level of requirement. We will have to learn from that", admitted the captain Charles Ollivon after the game.

Uninspired, undisciplined and clumsy, Ollivon's teammates spoke about their experience in the second half to snatch a victory without relief.

But knowing how to "win ugly" is also the prerogative of champions.

This time, the Blues will be satisfied with it.

With AFP

The summary of the

France 24 week invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 app

google-play-badge_FR