• The XV of France is riding a wave of excellent results, most often matched in style, before challenging Australia on Saturday, during the first of three test matches in November.

  • As the World Cup starts in ten months, the Blues, dissected by all their rivals, seem to be at the top of their game.

  • Fabien Galthié and his players still have a few surprises in store for their future opponents.

While in the south, hesitant All Blacks sow doubt, despite their success in the last Rugby Championship, the XV of France is a hit in the north.

And even far beyond the equator.

Ten months before the start of their World Cup, the Blues can break a record of victories dating back to the 1930s if they enquiller an eleventh success in a row Saturday against Australia in Saint-Denis.

Apart from South Africa (see you on November 12 in Marseille), Fabien Galthié's men have wrung out since 2020 everything that is best on the small oval planet.

Exceptional players, with Antoine Dupont at the head of the gondola, a dominant conquest, an oppressive defense, often inspired attackers... The world of rugby, addicted to technology like a metro user can be to his smartphone, knows everything from our famous "premium team", to Romain Ntamack's gel brand.



So we dare the question: are the Blues ready too soon?

“I would not say that, retorts the 2nd line Thibaud Flament, holder this Saturday alongside Cameron Woki against the Wallabies.

We continue to prepare, we correct our mistakes, we always learn in training and in matches.

We are on our way.

“The speech recalls the theme of” the arrow of time “, unchecked by Galthié the day after the 2019 World Cup in order to stick in the Webb Ellis trophy one evening of the final, October 28, 2023 at the Stade de France.

“We have the basics, we have a series of victories, which allows us to be mentally strong, to have a certain safety, continues Woki.

But we must always progress.

We are happy to have this tour, this Tournament [of the VI Nations] and the preparation matches which will help us to arrive as ready as possible for this World Cup.

»

Difficult to read in the past

Looking back, it is not always easy to draw clear lessons.

In 2003, the English of Jonny Wilkinson had imposed themselves after having crushed almost everything previously, like the All Blacks of 2011 and 2015. In 2019, on the other hand, the Springboks seemed to have returned from the dead, after years of wandering… As for the Blues, they came close to the sublime three times (1987, 1999, 2011) while their certainties sometimes contained in the thickness of a cigarette paper a few months before the competition.

“It is not at all comparable, sweeps Christophe Lamaison, hero of the 1999 epic and the unforgettable half against the band Jonah Lomu (43-31).

At the time, we were not necessarily a major nation.

We nations of the north used to lose against those of the south.

New Zealand, Australia and South Africa usually ended up in the last four and the last place was either for France or for England…”

The irony of “Titou” Lamaison

“The preparations are completely different, continues the former opener.

We didn't necessarily change the teams, the coaching didn't exist and, honestly, the results before the World Cup didn't matter.

" So, when we submit our angle to him on the phone, we can imagine a smile emerging: "I would find it a shame if we complained that the French team was winning, knowing that for ten years, it couldn't to do it !

»

Another big name in international rugby at the end of the 20th century, Scott Hastings also fell under the spell of the Blues version 2022. "They are the big favourites", explains the ex-Scottish center, who however expects to attend the next year to "the most competitive World Cup" in history.

"The French have shown how good they can be," continues the "freelance" consultant.

The question is how they will cope with the pressure.

Hosting such competition is something unique, and there will be occasions between now and then where the Blues look vulnerable.

»


Lamaison has another question: “Fabien and his staff are competitors, they don't like to lose.

How would a defeat be apprehended?

I don't wish it on them, but I want to see what effect it would have on Fabien's programming up until the event.

"Fabien Galthié is a great coach and he will plan for all eventualities," replies Scott Hastings from a distance.

This team will be better prepared than all the previous French teams.

»

“We changed our game for this tour”

Barring injuries and/or the appearance of a new UFO in the sky of the Top 14, the formation which will start the World Cup on September 8, 2023 against the All Blacks will look a lot like the current “premium” team.

In any case in its composition, perhaps not quite in its expression.

“Our room for improvement, it is mainly based on the adversaries, launches Cameron Woki, who assumes without concern the label of favorite stuck on the fronts of the XV of France.

We changed our game for this tour.

We changed a lot of things, and we'll see if it works.

»

The message is coded, and we will have to wait at least for the final whistle against Australia to start playing the Champollion of blue words.

“We are on our eighth training method, we have modified it again, it is even better, assured Galthié Thursday at a press conference.

I imagine that we will have a ninth for the Tournament and a tenth for the World Cup, further modified and even better.

“Behind this cryptic language, the native of Cahors hides tricks to allow his already conquering Blues to stand out a little more from the lot in less than a year.

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