The temptation is great, when victory is thus offered, to depreciate it a bit. To judge the adversary too weak to triumph and to show misplaced pride. Yes, it is English in decline that the Blues have punished in their garden, this Saturday, March 11, winning at Twickenham 53-10. It prevents. Fabien Galthié’s men have indeed achieved a feat, a capital performance that will remain in the legend of rugby.
“It’s a little hard to realize when you see the scoreboard”, commented captain Antoine Dupont at the end of the meeting. And for good reason: 7 tries to one, and 43 points difference, this is the biggest gap ever recorded between the two nations, and by far. History had previously held a success of 25 points in 1972 (37-12) with six tries scored by the troops then led by captain Walter Spanghero. But it was at home, in Colombes, in the famous Yves du Manoir Olympic Stadium.
43 points difference, historic record
In England, in the temple of the XV of the Rose, it was quite different. The Blues had not been ahead of their best enemies since 2005. And yet it was then a narrow game, won on the wire thanks to the foot of Dimitri Yachvili (18-17). But since then, nothing. A long wait, which was undoubtedly worth it to arrive at the demonstration of this March 11, impeccable from start to finish. A full match, finally, after which the Blues had been chasing since the start of this Six Nations Tournament.
And that was what they were looking for, the French, against a team they knew had been struggling for weeks, focused on rebuilding with their new coach Steve Borthwick, but above all in search of benchmarks and without much certainty. “We thought we had to put out a big game, and that’s what we did, the best for some time”welcomed striker Thomas Ramos, still as precise on foot and this time inspired in his raises. “We wanted to release THE game today”confirmed coach Fabien Galthié.
The Blues actually started with a bang, with a try from Thomas Ramos in the second minute after a wide and spectacular movement. Start strong, a consistency of the XV of France this year, but which unfortunately contrasted until then with a tendency to mark time then, to gradually wither. Except that at Twickenham, the Blues immediately mastered their opponents to never let them go, dominating almost all the compartments of the game, with a rain which however did not facilitate the hand game of the artists.
Still believe in victory in the Tournament
But it was said that everything was going to smile, even under the deluge, the Blues surfing the wave when the English were drowning. The doubles followed one another: two tries from the overpowering second line Thibaud Flament, two others from a Charles Ollivon who is back in top form, and two more to drive home the nail from a Damian Penaud as if on parade at the end of the match. . It was obviously too much for an English public with flushed enthusiasm, who preferred to leave the stands before the final whistle.
So here are the Blues taking advantage of the offensive bonus point (from four tries scored) and clinging to the slim hope of still winning the Tournament, even without the Grand Slam last year. “Our team is stubborn, and we have the will not to let go of the trophy”had warned Fabien Galthié before the meeting.
The rest of course depends on Ireland, still in the lead and who this Sunday March 12 will challenge Scotland at home (at 4 p.m.) in a decisive duel. But the coach of the Blues can be satisfied with this beautiful English ride “which means that we are in the right, in the right”. Next step to confirm it, Wales on March 18 at the Stade de France.