2024-02-03 08:39:59
Stunned by their heavy defeat in Marseille at the opening of the 6 Nations Tournament, the Blues struggled on Friday evening to find elements of explanation.
However, the XV of France begins the year 2024 as it ended 2023: with its head in the bucket. And that’s not exactly the angle from which we were sold the scenario. Unless we read it wrong. Prematurely disembarked from the World Cup this fall, the Blues have just started the 6 Nations Tournament in the worst possible way. Namely, a home defeat against Ireland. Five years since they had experienced such a hiccup on the first day. And by quack, we must also mean the second largest difference in points – unfavorable, of course – since they participated in the event (come on, let’s dig in a little deeper: that is to say say in 1910!). We could still add other figures to finish off the picture, but what’s the point?
Just stick to the gloomy idea that we perhaps wanted to see these Blues more beautiful than they were and that, if it is not quickly refuted, the disappointment will turn into reality. bitterness. Because, from the Marseille “pastis” of this France-Ireland of February 2, 2024, we retained a definition, certainly less popular than the illustrious aniseed aperitif, but very real, as we can also read it in any dictionary: an “embarrassing, complicated situation”.
“We will try to understand”
Beaten soundly, 17-38, France conceded five tries (thus offering Ireland the additional point of the offensive bonus). Symbol – and, in part, cause – of the rout, they also had to play with fourteen from the 32nd minute, after the second row Paul Willemse (whose absence was considered detrimental, due to injury, during the World Cup) was sent off following a second yellow card received (and in any case converted into a red) for a fault identical to the first: contact with the shoulder against an opposing head. The mission became impossible, only the end of the first period and the beginning of the second giving a glimpse of a feeling of revolt which would, ultimately, shatter against the opposing robustness.
Faced with the severity of the score, Fabien Galthié, the coach, had no other choice than to concede “a tough moment”, with “a lot of negative charges”, which he struggled to dissect at the time, preferring to kick in with a: “We will try to understand from Monday.” No less stunned, the rare players who agreed to sweep in front of the locker room door certainly tried to take gloves, but without minimizing a disappointment of which it is still a little early, indeed, to measure the consequences.
Looking towards Scotland
François Cros, the third wing line of Stade Toulouse: “At the heat, this defeat is complicated to analyze. They started strong and we were engaged from the start. However, after having difficulty starting this match, we were unable to get back on track, which could have helped to reverse the pressure. Without being able to free ourselves, it was not possible for us to really set up our game system and we curled up on ourselves. They say that the high level sometimes comes down to not much, but there was a lot missing here. Take 40 points [en réalité, trente-huit, ndlr] at home, it hurts.”
Paul Gabrillagues, the second row of Stade Français, who would have had two reasons to rejoice, by celebrating his return to the French team four and a half years after his last appearance in blue, and by having scored the second and last tricolor try, just before being replaced, in the 53rd minute: “In sport, as in life, you have to stay positive, look ahead. We have no choice, we are not going to feel sorry for ourselves. We will have to be united, it is important. If everyone spreads out, it will be complicated.” At the same time, we saw in the background Paul Willemse crossing the press room towards the bus, without a glance at his partners sacrificing the obligations of the post-match media ritual, all of them, naturally taking care not to overwhelm him.
France’s next opponent in the Tournament will be Scotland – who begin the match against Wales in Cardiff this Saturday, February 3. Eight days will separate the failed meeting in Marseille from that at Murrayfield. “We have no time to waste,” observes François Cros. Difficult to contradict him.
#Blues #lot #missing #Libération