Special envoy to Nantes
FAVORITES
Two days before the announcement of the group of 33 players for the World Cup (September 8-October 28), one could logically fear that the Blues lined up this Saturday in Nantes were afraid of getting injured. To stay docked so close to the goal. It has not happened. The XV of France delivered against Fiji the most successful of its three preparation matches, after rather poorly controlled outings against Scotland. Desire, rhythm, intensity, the public of Nantes feasted in front of this enthusiastic team and master of their game. , but a great experience thanks to the formula of 42. Since the tour in Australia, in Japan, they live our project. They did not discover this international level, ”recalled Fabien Galthié. A more than convincing performance 20 days before the start of the World Cup against the All Blacks.
In recent matches, the famous “finishers” – the new terminology in force to talk about substitutes – had disappointed. Not bringing the punch and the second wind that is expected of them around the hour mark. This Saturday, that was not the case. They were able to hold the barracks and even revive the Blues against the tough Fijian attacks. Scrum-half Maxime Lucu (UBB), who for once put on the starter’s suit, admitted it: “We were coming out of two matches where we hadn’t necessarily been good for 80 minutes, we had small air holes where we took a lot of points … We wanted to play a really tough match. Thing done – and in a beautiful way – in Nantes. The Blues have shown that they are gaining momentum.
The XV of France and Nantes is a love story that does not date from today. In 1986, the band at Fouroux had brutally struck down the All Blacks (16-3). In 2010, the Blues had already beaten Fiji in this arena by the score of 34 to 12. This Saturday, many supporters of Stade Rochelais had made the trip to Nantes and they gave voice to support theirs. This amused the pillar of the Maritimes, Reda Wardi, who confided: “On the ground, we heard them shouting “Here, here, it’s La Rochelle”. We couldn’t miss them.” As in Saint-Étienne, the atmosphere was there and the players of the XV of France were able to measure the crazy expectation they arouse among their fans. During the World Cup, La Beaujoire will still be in the spotlight with a rough Ireland-Tonga (September 16), a South American Argentina-Chile (September 30), a revengeful Wales-Georgia (October 7) and, the next day , a panting Japan-Argentina (October 8).
CLAW STRIKES
Fijians are rightly considered the magicians of rugby. Capable of superb flashes and strokes of genius in the messy game. They are also – like all players in the Pacific – formidable warriors, tough on evil, who impose a physical challenge at all times. Except that we didn’t see any of that this Saturday at La Beaujoire. It was the Blues who won the physical showdown, imposed their intensity, and Radradra and his teammates were almost never able to spread their wings, caught in the tricolor damper. In 2018, the XV of France was humiliated by Fiji at the Stade de France precisely because it had never been able to compete in impacts and aggressiveness. The Habs set the record straight on Saturday. And bends, brilliantly, the Fijian magicians.
An hour before the kick-off of the match, the crowd was huge in front of the Beaujoire gates to enter the stadium. Hundreds of supporters waited calmly to be able to pass the security filters. An astonishing scene for an enclosure accustomed to welcoming, in much more fluid conditions, supporters of FC Nantes. For this match, the security system had been changed, it was different from football matches, and many spectators had to wait until the last moments to regain their place. Improvements (changes?) in access to the Nantes stadium seem necessary for the World Cup. And why not take inspiration from what is done for the Canaries matches and which works very well?
Obviously, it is impossible to retain only that and to give him a bad trial. Grégory Alldritt is one of the engines of this XV of France, an indisputable player, essential that the rugby planet envies us. Undoubtedly one of the world references to the position of number 8. However, and it is rare enough to notice it, he made a small mistake in taste on Saturday, wasting a two against one in the end against the Fijians. Preferring to transplant inside and challenge the Fijian defense, rather than serve the arrow Louis Bielle-Biarrey who was on his right. A missed trial opportunity. A small error of judgment without gravity obviously, but unusual on his part. And quickly forgotten…
