Europe 1 with AFP 7:35 p.m., February 21, 2023

Rebound time.

The XV of France, which remained on a series of fourteen straight victories before its defeat in Ireland, is looking for solutions before receiving Scotland, Sunday, during the third day of the Six Nations Tournament.

Between club and selection, the French internationals have been on the bridge since September.

Result, Grégory Alldritt already displays 1354 minutes on the clock, a little more than Ethan Dumortier (1338) or Anthony Jelonch (1304).

Even Antoine Dupont, 1261 minutes and once again titanic in Ireland, was "exhausted" and "needed a rest", according to Fabien Galthié.

In Dublin, the images were glaring: the French seemed chewed up from the break and their body language, hands on hips, in search of air, betrayed a certain fatigue.

"We held the shock for 80 minutes but, when we compare ourselves to the Irish at the end of the match, there is a gap (…) They give the impression of being able to play for two days", blew Romain Ntamack.

A worrying finding after intense preparation at Capbreton.

This time, will a good week's rest before ending up in Marcoussis have been enough?

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Offensive sector at half mast

Repossession?

Dispossession?

After autumn tests where the game of the Blues had sometimes seemed a little too readable, the staff of the XV of France had promised a little more alternation.

"In November, it was perhaps a little more reductive, we had changed our tune. There, we find a little more freedom on the ground, more game options, more initiative , passes… There, it is a little more open”, had also detailed Romain Ntamack.

However, the framework for the start of 2023 seems a little more vague.

And the Blues have only scored five tries since the start of the Tournament (4th attack).

“What we saw in Ireland was confusion on the pitch (…) What bothered me a little bit was that we saw more confusion than the beginning to set up a game" explained former coach Pierre Berbizier.

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Struggling finishers

From Jonathan Danty to Cameron Woki via Gabin Villière and Peato Mauvaka... absences have weighed heavily since the start of the Tournament.

And, apart from Ethan Dumortier, designated replacement for Villière on the wing, the substitutes seemed less in verve.

The bench with six forwards and two three-quarters, with Sekou Macalou in a hybrid role, certainly made it possible to finish with a pack of fresh forwards but it also limited the choices behind.

And pushed Matthieu Jalibert, usual opener, to evolve in 15, a position where he has already explained not to be comfortable.

"Jalibert did not know what he was doing at the back, he was disturbed in his placements and his kicking game was less effective", still regretted Berbizier.

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The turnover machine is seized up

Penalized 18 times in Italy, seven times ahead of Ireland, the Blues corrected their indiscipline.

But they still have their work cut out for the rucks while World Rugby has asked the referees to leave less freedom in this phase of play, the usual strong point of the XV of France.

The absences of Jonathan Danty and Gabin Villière, particularly effective in the rucks, also contributed to failures.

But they don't explain everything.

Against Ireland and its rucks at full speed, the Blues were unable (could not?) to trip the green radars.

In front of Scotland, we will have to regain the battle on the ground, dominating during the series of victories of the Grand Slam 2022.