2023-08-26 11:14:19
Rugby World Cup 2023 in FrancedossierTwo weeks before the opening of the World Cup, the future opponents of the XV of France suffered the worst defeat in their history on Friday August 25. The men of Galthié have an appointment with the Wallabies on Sunday at 5:45 p.m.
They had never lost by more than 21 points. Friday, August 25, the All Blacks left the stadium with a much saltier slate: a 35-7 inflicted by the South Africans, reigning world champions. Either the worst defeat in the history of New Zealanders.
Did the men in black lack rhythm? Were they less motivated than the Springboks, wound up like clockwork since the last confrontation between the two nations, which ended in a clear defeat for South Africa (35-20) in July, during the Rugby Championship?
Before the evening meeting, South Africa remained on a crushing victory against Wales (52-16) last weekend, while the previous match of the All Blacks, which dated back to August 5, had only given birth to a narrow victory over Australia (23-20).
Friday’s match, intense and very committed, the final test before the World Cup in France (September 8 – October 28), with the air of a final before the hour and which could be one of the quarters of the World Cup, will not reassure the New Zealand armada, two weeks before the opening match against the XV of France.
Especially since the All Blacks had lined up their typical team in London. It took on water in all areas of the game. To complete the nightmare, the New Zealanders lost their pillar Tyrel Lomax, injured in a knee without the seriousness of the injury being known, and will probably have to play part of the World Cup without Scott Barrett. This second row, which is part of the team’s executives, was excluded just before the break for a shoulder blow on a clearing in a ruck after having already received a yellow card in the 17th.
If his final sanction has not yet been pronounced by the rugby authorities, he should be suspended against France, their next opponent on September 8 at the opening of the 2023 World Cup.
The XV of France is measured against Australia
For his part, the selection of the Blues Fabien Galthié recalled the executives to face Australia, Sunday at 5.45 p.m., the final match before the start of hostilities at the Stade de France on September 8.
The arrival of the Wallabies, nine months after the French victory (30-29) in the enclosure of Saint-Denis, is therefore timely to allow Gaël Fickou, Grégory Alldritt, Damian Penaud and other Thomas Ramos to repeat their ranges and to get playing time.
Facing the Wallabies, it will therefore be a question of gaining confidence but also, and above all, of dispelling some doubts. Starting with the complementarity of the hinge formed by the scrum half Antoine Dupont and the opener Matthieu Jalibert, designated replacement for Romain Ntamack, package for the entire competition. “Matthew or Roman, it’s not necessarily better or worse. It does not really change our game system, blows François Cros. Matthieu is a very creative player with the ball. He likes to attack the line and bring danger, which Romain does very well too… We have to stop being in the comparison.
For manager Raphaël Ibanez, Australia are “the most serious and athletic opposition that we could imagine before getting into the heart of the matter for the competition that awaits us”. And too bad if Eddie Jones’ Wallabies land in France limping along after four defeats in a row and four small victories in their last fifteen matches.
“A challenge on the front line that is going to be terrible”
“Sunday, we will face players who will be physically ready and adapted for the very high level, thus estimated the former hooker and captain of the Blues. They are going to impose a challenge on the front line which is going to be terrible. This is a team that will be able to impose rhythm on the match with an athletic side and offensive circuits that are well established. It’s a very structured rugby.”
The XV of France has lost only one home game since the start of the Galthié era: it was in March 2021, against Scotland (27-23). A new exit from the road, twelve days before the start of the World Cup, would look bad as the countdown has begun.
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