And Thierry Dusautoir returned to scene, the closed mine, not decided. And – something unusual – a tear in the eye on the latest outbursts of the Marseillaise. Four years after the heart-breaking loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland, the love story of the XV of France to the World Cup has again this Saturday night in another temple of rugby: Twickenham, home of English rugby parent, and the epicenter of the eighth rugby world cup, which will host the oval planet until October 31.
The opponent Italian did not have the prestige of New Zealanders, but he was tough enough to give luster to the reunion with the Webb Ellis Cup and give a pretty fervor to tens of thousands of French fans.
A messy Energy
It must be said that the wait was long. Four years moping misfires Tournaments tours depressing. Four years to follow a few ups and especially the low number of a team with a win-loss record negative.
But the team of France had said that after three months of preparation, we would see her in a different light. And in fact the Blues have done the job, winning 32 to 10. Without derogating from their game plan – physical and pragmatic, but with energy, which although a little messy, makes you want to encourage.
Is the effect of Mercury? Twickenham is eaten usually frozen in winter gales of Crunches France-England. But a sun and a Roman softness were invited to the party, taking to reverse all the forecasts of doom and gloom of sports weather. This gave around the stadium a kind of garden-party atmosphere, nice bright as more passionate, the World Cup is far from electrifying the English capital as the Olympics two years ago. The grannies sitting in front of their cottages were selling muffins for their charitable work. The French fans were out in their finest hats “chickens,” as you put Mickey ears to go to Walt Disney. And on the big screen, the Japanese, beautiful winners of South Africans gave that first afternoon, a welcome surplus of magic, in a sport where ogres rarely cede face small Poucets.
15-3 at halftime
The French knew what awaited them if they did not hoisted up to the event. From the first minutes, they imposed their physical challenge, winning three consecutive penalties on Italian mistakes in the rucks and scrums. At the ninth, strategy steamroller nearly to pay. Bastareaud, Guirado Dumoulin then pierced the enemy lines, Huget went ashore the ball off again open side, and Noa Nakaitaci after a superb move … let go of the ball at the time of flattening. Beta for the Blues and the referee Joubert who had first given the test. Three penalties later, the French returned to the locker room leading by 12 points (15-3), without it being stolen.
The second half off again on a nice pace. At the 45 th , Nakaitaci was playing again his fiery legs depositing three defenders along the touchline, and was launched Guirado who failed on the line. Postponed since on the following motion, Michalak, a little kick skimming above the defense, Slimani was the first French test. Following the match will be chopped with (too) many mistakes and two needy tests, one for the Italians (who played in blue) and the other for the Blues (who played in red).
Concerns and promises
All is not so perfect. The reasons for concern remain. The Italians, who are not the Blacks were able to slip several times through the French lines. Bastareaud and Nakaitaci yet dropped gold balloons. And especially Yoann Huget, the main weapon French offensive, released the 54 th bulk leg was sufficiently collapsed on the bench so that his World Cup is compromised.
There remain, however beautiful things on which to capitalize. Confirmations: the good performance of the French scrum, Scott Spedding mammoth kick that still gave a penalty of 50 meters, or “almost 100%” Fred Michalak penalties, since both of misfires Toulon finished the opener on the posts. And surprises, including very good mobility of fronts. Thus the enormous lives (in all respects) 3 th Louis Picamoles sprinter center line and playing foot hooker Guilhem Guirado will take to a three quarts, and the pillar to flatten off Slimani in the in-goal and deliver its first test in blue.
This victory is comfortable. It allows already the XV of France to a big option on the quarterfinals. But be careful decompression. Against Ireland for the small final of the chicken, the Blues can not count on the indiscipline of their opponents. And, in case of defeat, the penalty will be fatal: it is the Blacks and their total rugby the next round
Gurvan Leguellec (special correspondent in London) .
No comments:
Post a Comment