2023-10-07 08:00:00
Find out what pleased, and less pleased, our two rugby specialists present at Parc OL during the Blues’ big victory against Italy (60-7).
FAVORITES
Peak form reached
Against Italy, the Blues impressed with the intensity they put into the game. And, above all, by their ability to maintain this intensity throughout the match. The week of work and regeneration that they had after the success over the Namibians was profitable for them. At Parc OL, the players prepared by Thibault Giroud appeared very sharp, physically dominant. They have clearly reached the peak of form that they wanted to have before the tough matches began. Before this last match of the group stage, Fabien Galthié confided: “A peak in form? We had a 14-week vision for preparation. We are in the 14th week. We are where we wanted to be, but it is the field which will demonstrate the form of the moment. And the demonstration of strength and efficiency was resounding in the face of a Nazionale that was stifled from the start. Reassuring before approaching a quarter-final which promises to be titanic, a priori, against the Springboks. The standoff will be much harsher and more violent. And, this time, the Blues will only have a little over a week to prepare.
Ramos heart of target
He finished the first round as the competition’s best scorer with 61 points (1 try, 6 penalties, 19 conversions) in three matches played. Ahead of the New Zealander Damian McKenzie (53 points) and the Irishman Jonathan Sexton (45 points but who can improve his total this Saturday evening against Scotland). With 25 attempts out of 29 (86% success), the Toulouse guard continues to meet his standards. For a season and a half, Thomas Ramos has had more than 80% success. Friday night against Italy, he put up a 7/8 and added a try for good measure.
Moefana wakes up at the right time
Until then, his performances were disappointing. Yoram Moefana, while he had regularly shone in blue since his international debut during the Autumn Nations Cup, had lost his efficiency and his edge in the center of the French attack. Starting against the All Blacks in the absence of Jonathan Danty, the UBB player delivered a mixed performance. Far from his best level. But, this Friday, change of direction. As a substitute, he made a thunderous entry into the game in Lyon, in the 62nd minute replacing Gaël Fickou. All in power and speed, the solid Wallisian scored a double (63rd and 75th) which closed the offensive festival of the XV of France. Like a real “impact player”. Immediately decisive. A remarkable and reassuring performance as the final sprint awaits the Blues. And his versatility is precious, since in addition to being able to play in the center or on the wing, he can also help out in the third line as was the case against Namibia.
CLAW STRIKES
Italy fallen very low
The latest outings of the Nazionale, driven by a new generation of talented and ambitious players, augured better days. Nothing happened in this World Cup. The Italians, although convincing against Namibia and Uruguay, were violently corrected by the All Blacks (96-17) then the Blues. Letting glaring and crippling defects resurface. They conceded 156 points against the two best teams in their group, New Zealand and France. For comparison, Uruguay took “only” 100 points against these same opponents. A sign of the difficulties in the Alps, discontent has risen sharply in Italy, a country where rugby struggles to exist in the shadow of football. The Capuozzo, Lamaro and other Cannone suddenly came back down to earth. Many presented them (wrongly, in the end) as threats in this Group A. Did they see themselves as too good after their first two matches? Maybe. Small consolation, they finished third in this group and therefore won their ticket for the next World Cup. But the work remains immense. Once again.
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Too many mistakes from Fickou
In a French XV that was once again very disciplined (only 6 penalties whistled by the English referee, Mr. Dickson), the captain of the French defense looked like an ugly duckling. Gaël Fickou alone collected half of the French sanctions (ball kept on the ground and offside positions). The other Blues penalized were Maxime Lucu, Thomas Ramos and Cameron Woki, the only forward taken by the patrol.
Capuozzo private show
We would have liked to see the Toulouse gem of the Squadra Azurra for a little longer than half an hour. If Ange Capuozzo would undoubtedly not have changed the course of the meeting, perhaps he would have ignited it with one of his long-term restarts of which he has the secret. The ace ! The full-back had to leave his partners in the 31st minute. Hit in the face and remaining on the ground after having managed to cross the advantage line, the English referee asked that he go through the concussion protocol. With good reason since the X factor of the transalpine XV did not satisfy it and was not authorized to return to the field, definitively replaced by Lorenzo Pani.
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