2023-09-15 08:05:00
After a lackluster victory against Uruguay on Thursday (27-12), the French XV will have to make some adjustments. Explanations.
By Audrey Ronfaut French winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey during the match against Uruguay at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Lille (North), September 14, 2023. © Franck Fife/AFP Published on 09/15/2023 at 8:05 a.m.
The Blues recorded a second victory in these group stages, but the task was not easy against a tough Uruguay team, author of two tries and who did not give up. It front of Teros, Fabien Galthié’s men, approximate, struggling in melee, scared each other on many occasions. The French XV certainly comes out a winner thanks to three tries signed Hastoy (11th), Mauvaka (55th) and Bielle-Biarrey (73rd), but without the offensive bonus.
– Fullback Melvyn Jaminet confirmed his kicking game against the poles, he scored 12 points, always good to take.
– Anthony Jelonch, captain of the Blues for this meeting, made his comeback in the French XV jersey after his left knee injury. Replaced in the 50th minute, the third row was however discreet.
– Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the liberator. The young three-quarter wing scored the third try of the match and thus scored his first try in the competition at just 20 years old! In the reserve during this match, the room for improvement remains large for “LBB”.
– With this second consecutive victory, the French team temporarily takes the lead in Pool A, ahead of Italy and New Zealand.
Correcting the situation against Namibia
And now ? The Blues will have to quickly question themselves to rectify the situation against Namibia on September 21 in Marseille. Even if, on paper, Antoine Dupont’s gang should logically win and, above all, have a chance of taking the precious offensive bonus. The two teams have met twice in the World Cup during the group stages. Matches which ended in big victories for the Blues: 47-13 in 1999 and 87-10 in 2007.
READ ALSO How Antoine Dupont became the best rugby player in the worldTHE Welwitschias, nickname given to the Namibian team in reference to a desert plant, are participating in their 7th World Cup since 1999 without ever having won a match: will 2023 be the right one? Not sure. After a defeat on September 9 against Italy (52-8), it will be very complicated this Friday against the Blacks. Namibia also recorded the biggest defeat in the World Cup: 142-0 against Australia in 2003.
Qualified in July 2022 for the World Cup by beating Kenya 36-0 in the Rugby Africa Cup, the Namibian XV will put their heart into the work against the French XV. We will follow in particular Torsten van Jaarsveld, 36 years old. The former Namibian hooker from Aviron Bayonnais is participating here in his third World Cup after those of 2015 and 2019.
France-Namibia, Thursday September 21. Kick-off at 9 p.m. at the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille.
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