There are strange matches that call for mixed feelings. The France-Scotland of this Sunday February 26 is a good example, satisfying but without being really sure, worrying but not completely either. The objective of the Blues on this affair, Fabien Galthié barely returned to it when the final whistle was given: “The theme was falling and getting up,” commented the coach of the France rugby team, recalling the bad memory of the final defeat against Ireland two weeks earlier (19-32). And to add: “Getting up was the only good way to continue. »
The XV of France has therefore indeed recovered, achieving the rebound expected for this third match of the Six Nations Tournament. The victory is there, 32-21, and the offensive bonus thanks to the four tries scored (against three conceded). “The trophy, we haven’t let go of it yet”, could smile Fabien Galthié, France pointing to the fourth place in the classification but with the same number of points as England and Scotland. A victory in the competition is therefore mathematically always possible. But to get there, things had happened for eighty rather chaotic minutes.
Spinning red cards
The start, however, seemed to set the tone. Blues full of drive, applied and precise. And very quickly points that validate the intention: a try by Romain Ntamack, his sixth in the France team. And we even read in this determination as a desire to silence the critics who fell after the first two performances of the Toulousain. His impeccable pass to open the in-goal and the second try to winger Ethan Dumortier a few minutes later confirmed the impression.
Except that the match was not played only in this ease, a few game facts having fun scrambling cards that were obviously too well distributed. A red card for a wicked shoulder tackle from Scottish second row Grant Gilchrist, another exclusion five minutes later, but this time for French prop Mohamed Haouas guilty of a header, and the two teams were forced to practice rugby at XIV, with packets of slightly disorganized forwards. The Blues seemed to live with it with a third try on an opportunistic interception by full-back Thomas Ramos to lead 19-0 after eighteen minutes of debate. False lead, however.
Another lack of control
Because from there, it was the Scots who tried to confuse the game. Good in their own way, a bit crazy but without sacrificing efficiency. In the second half, a very fiery XV du Chardon put the Blues to the test. With furious forwards storming the French ramparts until they gave way. Two tries later and here is the Scots almost sticking to the score (25-21). And the doubt then to invite himself in front of the delivery of the Blues. Too fair physically, as in Ireland? And what about the “finishers” dear to Fabien Galthié, substitutes who once won the day, but who this year seem more timid?
It was however in a final burst, at the end of the end of the match that the Blues went to establish their victory and seek with energy the fourth try synonymous with an offensive bonus. Proof of character if any, but yet difficult to completely erase a long wavering. Antoine Dupont also analyzed it perfectly at the end of the match at the microphone of France Télévisions: “We must be able to better control this match and not set ourselves on fire like this at the end”, underlined the scrum half of the Blues. Effectively. For now, the Blues are still looking for a totally convincing performance in this tournament. Next March 11 at Twickenham against their best English enemies? Impatience wins.