2023-08-05 19:03:05
The Blues began their preparation for the Rugby World Cup, which begins in a month, with a defeat against Scotland (25-21) on Saturday. The XV of France will play another match against the Scots next week, in Saint-Étienne.
Published on: 05/08/2023 – 19:03
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Rejuvenated and deprived of their captains – but imperial for forty minutes – the XV of France collapsed in the second half to bow on Saturday August 5 in Scotland (25-21), as part of the first match of preparation for the Cup of the world, at home (September 8 – October 28).
Three tries from scrum half Baptiste Couilloud (12th), winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey (25th) and second line Cameron Woki (40th + 2) in the first period had nevertheless given the Blues an eighteen point lead at the break against the sluggish Scots (21-3).
But the XV du Chardon is never as strong as its back to the wall. Pushed by a whole stadium, Finn Russell’s teammates, reduced to fourteen after the yellow card turned red from pillar Zander Fagerson (55th), came back strong in the last forty minutes, scoring three tries in turn by winger Darcy Graham (42nd), prop Pierre Schoeman (54th) and hooker David Cherry (64th).
The locals even saw two other tries being refused, to winger Duhan van der Merwe (33rd) then to rear Blair Kinghorn (60th).
“Electric scooters”
But this meeting against the fifth nation in the world, at Murrayfield, with its almost typical team, above all looked like a life-size test for the men of Fabien Galthié, who had launched three neophytes.
Three-quarters Émilien Gailleton (20 years old) and Louis Bielle-Biarrey (20 years old) and Paul Boudehent (23 years old) were not impressed: the first two, nicknamed “electric scooters”, made their speed speak while that the third line of La Rochelle was precious by its slaughter.
What to give solutions to the staff of the Blues before the announcement, on August 21, of the list of 33 players summoned to participate in the World Cup. Because, with only 14 selections and an average age of 25 and a half at kick-off, Fabien Galthié had clearly decided to offer a chance to show himself to certain players.
Return match in a week
In his fight for the position of substitute scrum half, behind captain Antoine Dupont and his usual substitute Maxime Lucu, Lyonnais Baptiste Couilloud, dominating on two of the three tries scored in the first period, scored points in his duel with the Toulonnais Baptiste Serin.
Pillar Demba Bamba, second line Cameron Woki, center Yoram Moefana and third line Yoan Tanga were also able to put themselves forward. Just like the captain for a day Brice Dulin, who returned to the France team after two years of absence. Enough to upset the hierarchy?
“What is unfortunate is that we built our first half very very well, we put things in order, and in the second they manage to keep us at home (…). It’s encouraging , but given what we produced it’s really frustrating not to have hung the victory”, regretted Brice Dulin.
These Blues still have three weeks and two matches, against Scotland in a week in Saint-Etienne, then Fiji on August 19 in Nantes, to earn their place alongside the usual executives, such Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Gaël Fickou or Gregory Alldritt.
Despite a less controlled second period, the Blues seem armed for their World Cup, which they will start with a major shock against New Zealand on September 8. The state of mind and the desire are there.
Scotland, for its part, showed two faces: the first worrying where the men of Gregor Townsend seemed unable to react against a team which clearly lacked benchmarks and automatisms; the second much more reassuring and realistic with rediscovered and effective leaders.
But Scotland have a mountain to climb: they are in the terrible group B, alongside world champions South Africa and world No. 1 Ireland.
With AFP
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