2023-09-14 22:53:55
At the end of a disappointing performance, the Blues beat (27-12), Thursday in Lille, a very combative Uruguayan team. This French XV, which was very overhauled compared to the victory against the All Blacks, had a lot of difficulty putting its game into place and did not obtain the offensive bonus.
Published on: 09/14/2023 – 10:53 p.m. Modified on: 09/14/2023 – 11:08 p.m.
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The finishers were not up to par on Thursday September 14 in Lille. To face Uruguay, Fabien Galthié chose to make 12 changes from the team that beat the All Blacks in the opening match. And the meager victory of the Blues (27-12) is not likely to significantly change the hierarchy within the French group.
It took a big mistake from the modest Uruguayan “Teros”, 17th in the world rankings, for the Blues, approximate and undisciplined, to give themselves some breathing room with a second try (55th), scored by the incoming Peato Mauvaka, after the first of N.10 Antoine Hastoy (10-5, 11th).
The late try from Louis Bielle-Biarrey (73rd), who became the youngest French player to play in a World Cup, finished killing the suspense at the same time as inflating the score.
But would the French have scored a second success in their group A if in the 22 meters, the Uruguayan fly-half Felipe Etcheverry had not sent the ball bouncing off a teammate, allowing the French hooker to flatten?
Previously, Fabien Galthié’s usual finishers and complementary players were tossed around, several times having to be saved by refereeing decisions. As against the All Blacks, the Blues conceded an early try (6th).
Less depth than expected
And the match could have frankly gone badly if the yellow card received by the second row Romain Taofifenua (27th) had turned red for his high tackle on the Teros scrum half and Castres player, Santiago Arata. Or if the second Uruguayan try had not been canceled for obstructing an opponent without the ball (34th).
Without Antoine Dupont, resting like the main executives (Matthieu Jalibert, Gaël Fickou, Grégory Alldritt), the replacements did not shine. And for his return from injury, six months after his rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, third row Anthony Jelonch signed 50 discreet minutes (three tackles) for the standards of this basic man for the 2022 Grand Slam.
As for the second row Bastien Chalureau, the controversial selection after his conviction at first instance for racist violence, he entered in the 50th minute in place of Taofifenua.
The Blues, diminished by several injuries to senior players in recent weeks, display less depth than hoped. But there is still a month until the explosive quarter-final which looms in mid-October, undoubtedly against Ireland, the world’s leading nation, or South Africa, crowned four years ago.
Until then, their next match against Namibia in a week in Marseille, or the following on October 6 against Italy in Lyon, will be an opportunity to see center Jonathan Danty, hooker Julien Marchand and left prop again Cyril Baille, muscular injuries.
Because qualification for the final phase is in very little doubt for Antoine Dupont’s squad, resting on Thursday. All he needs is to rank among the top two in his group.
With AFP
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