At the end of a hair-raising meeting of intensity, Saturday February 11, on the lawn of Dublin could be read on the closed faces of the Blues more than fatigue and disappointment: the raging despondency of a team which could only to see his impotence, so much the eighty minutes spent trying to stop the Irish grinding machine had turned out to be in vain. They had not played badly, the Blues, for this second match of the Six Nations Tournament, but they came out wrung out and defeated (19-32) by stronger than them.
A final verdict that Fabien Galthié did not seek to challenge at the final whistle. “You have to recognize it: the best team won”, summarized the coach of the XV of France. The facts are there: four tries to one for the Irish, which reflect the effectiveness of well-rehearsed mechanics, applied to deploying their game, storming the opposing camp with perfectly measured kicks, then pounding their rear base until the inevitable rupture.
“French flair” is not enough
The Blues have tried to delay the deadline, have often succeeded, and this is also the worst. The bill could have been even higher. Evidenced by the statistics, which are also biting. The Irish have played more than nine minutes in the 22 meters of the Blues. Who conversely stayed less than a minute near the Irish goal line. Go compete in these conditions!
Of course, it is sometimes possible to rely on the famous “French flair”, this crazy inspiration which regularly animates the XV of France. Damian Penaud let himself be guided by this genius to initiate and conclude an incredible recovery attempt in the heart of the first half. But ensuring the show with a few flashes is no longer enough in modern surgical rugby. The Blues have especially struggled a lot, with a beautiful spirit of solidarity often, but in the end insufficient.
Thus ends the series of 14 consecutive victories of the Blues, and disappears the dream of a second grand slam in a row. So the defeat is very bitter. “We feel that she is not very appreciated in the teamobserved Fabien Galthié in a post-match press conference. Above all, it should not be experienced as a setback. » Trying to understand to bounce back, the program is already clear for the third line, Grégory Alldritt: “There are lessons to be learned. We will learn and grow. »
An offensive animation to review
It is indeed the strategy of the XV of France that the Irish correction questions. The meetings of autumn 2022, victorious but on the wire against Australia and South Africa, had shown the limit of the tactical choices which had made the good days of the Blues these last two years. This game says “dispossession”rather leaving the ball to the adversary to better counter him as soon as a flaw appeared, a system more reaction than action, had become too legible, and above all was not enough to put on the costume of a future winner of the World Cup.
Fabien Galthié has therefore evoked in recent weeks a notion of « repossession » to establish. In other words, the need for the Blues to take the game on their own to impose their own system on the opponent. The intentions were there against the XV of Clover, not the realization. The Blues defended without really managing to thwart Ireland, and when they had the controls almost never managed to break the opposing lines. The hinge composed of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack proved to be out of creativity, and, with the back Thomas Ramos, rarely at ease on the kicks of occupation.
The usual “finishers” dear to Fabien Galthié, substitutes entering the last twenty minutes, this time did not weigh on the debates. It is Ireland on the contrary, whose depth of bench seemed less rich, which without its metronomic number 10 Jonathan Sexton, managed to stifle the Blues in the last moments by millimeter kicks.
The Blues will have to do their best to compete with these Irish that they could find in the World Cup at the quarter-final stage. There are seven months left to turn the tide. It’s comfortable, but you won’t have to dawdle, with crossing points that won’t be formalities. Starting with the next challenge in a fortnight against a very enterprising Scottish team. Yes, the Blues have their work cut out for them.
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The Scots display their ambition
Confirmation Saturday February 11: the Scots more than ever are not there to make up the numbers. By crushing 35-7 on their Murrayfield lawn of the very pale Welsh Red Devils, the Scots displayed the same range as that revealed by their exploit at Twickenham the previous week against the English (29-23).
Two successes for their first two matches of the Tournament, the Scots had not achieved this sequence since 1996. By winning the offensive bonus twice, they are in the standings on equal points with the Irish. Suffice to say that they will not come to the Stade de France on February 26, bending over. The Blues are warned: this XV du Chardon really stings.