The triumphant French youth, an extraordinary communion with the public, but also minimal communication and a failed tribute to the Argentinian Aramburu, tragically deceased on Saturday morning. Find out what our two rugby specialists took away from the crazy evening at the Stade de France.
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Since they are young and good
France achieved the tenth Grand Slam in its history by relying on a golden generation of ultra-talented players. But what is most striking is the youth of Fabien Gathié’s troupe. At the start of this Crunch, the average age of the Blues was only 26 years old and just over 20 selections. Sacred blow of youth! But these Dupont, Ntamack, Alldritt, Jaminet, Woki, Baille and Marchand show impressive maturity and composure for their age. Value does not wait for the number of years, they say. This “new gen” XV of France proved it brilliantly during this Tournament, in the wake of the prestigious success while in control against the All Blacks in November. The future looks bright for this team, when other nations are struggling to renew themselves such as Wales or England, which is just beginning its generational change. The Blues can largely see beyond the 2023 World Cup…
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A wonderful communion with the public
The supporters were at the height of the event on Saturday evening at the Stade de France. Boosted, excited, happy. The players returned to them after the game. A moment of shared pride during the presentation of the long-awaited trophy on a podium installed on the lawn. Then nightclub atmosphere. The Blues and the stadium in unison sang and danced to Freed from Desire, the Gala hit that became the anthem of the tricolor locker room. A long lap of honor followed. First to go and kiss the loved ones, then to greet the whole audience, first with a clapping, then as close as possible. The stewards had installed a safety cordon. The Blues are freed from it, passing below to go into contact. A nice attitude to highlight.
Jaminet from Pro D2 to Grand Slam in less than a year
Nine months ago, Melvyn Jaminet was still playing in Pro D2, in Perpignan. Called to everyone’s surprise for the July 2021 tour in Australia, the 22-year-old back has since chained eleven starts. Permanent number 15 and scorer of the XV of France. Pinning Australia, New Zealand and a Grand Slam to his list. “I still find it hard to realizehe confided after the match, almost in disbelief of the situation. Achieving the Grand Slam from my first participation in the Six Nations Tournament is something crazy, incredible. A year ago, I was still playing in Pro D2. I realize it yes, I know where I come from. It went at a crazy speed, my journey is pretty crazy. But I am very happy to say where I come from. It gives me even more joy…»
Claw strokes
The FFR communicates at a minimum
Fabien Galthié repeats over and over again that the priority for his XV of France is to reach out to his audience, and even to widen his audience with the general public in view of the 2023 World Cup. The idea would therefore be to share, to communicate , to give the audience something to talk about. We will have to go back… After the victory against the English, three players appeared before the press (in addition to Galthié and Dupont): a holder, Melvyn Jaminet, and two “finishers” Romain Taofifenua and Maxime Lucu. “I dedicated myself to coming, they’re all in the jacuzzi celebrating,” explained the lining of Antoine Dupont, slightly embarrassed. None of the headliners of this team to tell this historic moment for French rugby. Another manifestation of this locked communication: Fabien Galthié did not sacrifice Sunday at the traditional press conference to debrief this Tournament. As his predecessors up to Jacques Brunel could have done. The FFR preferring to produce and broadcast on its networks what it decides to disclose. A strategy at the antithesis of what the Anglo-Saxons do. Eddie Jones gave a press briefing this Sunday morning for the British media. Even if he didn’t have good things to say…
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England and Eddie Jones without solutions
In the end, the XV of the Rose can thank Italy! By winning Saturday against Wales, the Nazionale avoided the English the possibility of finishing in fifth place in the Tournament for the second consecutive year. But, with three defeats on the clock (in addition to that against Scotland and Ireland), the vice-world champions are in trouble. Admittedly, they were deprived of many executives (Farrell, May, Watson, Tuilagi) but they disappointed during this edition. And Eddie Jones is more than ever in the hot seat. When asked if he was still the man for the job, he swept away, laconic: “I don’t know, it’s not for me to say…” Constrained and forced, he launched new (or inexperienced) players into this Tournament. But, more seriously, he fumbled tactically. Often adapting to the opponent, whereas previously England was dominant and imposed its rugby. The stubbornness of Marcus Smith’s teammates to play on foot against the Blues, to the point of absurdity, was revealing of the tactical errors of this team. The famous game of dispossession which had been the strength of the English XV, especially during the World Cup in Japan, is no longer relevant in this form. But Eddie Jones wants to be positive: “We are 14 months away from the World Cup, we have 11 matches, we will have to improve our efficiency. The difference between France and England can be less by the World Cup. Time is counted.
The failed tribute to Aramburu
The FFR had announced a tribute to the Argentinian Federico Martín Aramburú, coldly shot five times in the back on Saturday evening by an alleged far-right activist on Saturday morning at the end of a party in the 6e arrondissement. The emotion of the world of rugby was strong. The tribute was pathetic. A quick message from the stadium announcer 30 minutes before kick-off to scattered applause from an audience who only sat in the stands. And no photo on the big screen of the former player crowned twice champion of France with Biarritz Olympique (2005 and 2006). A malaise further accentuated at halftime when the public was invited to salute the memory of André Moga, who died thirty years ago, in 1992. An extract from a video was shown on the big screen. The reason ? He was the president of the Club Athlétique Béglais from 1958 to 1992. And so in 1991 during the coronation of Bègles with Bernard Laporte as scrum half. And today president of the FFR… Some even more scattered and unconvincing applause accompanied this incongruous tribute.