For the XV of France this Sunday, it was to raise their heads or say goodbye to the blue dreams of a new title: Antoine Dupont’s teammates forced the first option, after a new big fight against of tough Scots, second at the start of the match behind the Irish.
Gregor Townsend’s men, carried by a Finn Russell XXL and a lively Duhan van der Merwe, landed with two wins and ten points on the clock, after dominating England (29-24) and Wales (35 -7).
Fickou as a savior
They were quickly disillusioned: after ten minutes, an expulsion and a 12-0 for the Blues, the Stade de France public thought the deal was over. The French even took the score to 19-0 but in the meantime, they too found themselves at 14 after the expulsion of Mohamed Haouas.
And little by little, the Scots came back into the game, and even very close to four points from France (25-21) five minutes from time. Before Gaël Fickou seals the mark, offensive bonus as a bonus. Enough to calmly resume the march forward towards the 2023 World Cup at home (September 8-October 28).
More information to come…