The Blues face Italy (11th nation in the World Rugby rankings) this Friday evening at Groupama Stadium in Lyon. The match can be followed on TF1 (kick-off 9 p.m.), commented by François Trillo and his consultant Benjamin Kayser, but also live on the Figaro website, where our lively specialist Louis Mouret will take you through the confrontation minute by minute.
The French other groups. To avoid any headaches, the situation is simple for Fabien Galthié’s players: we must not lose against the Transalpines. “They are Latins that we know well. Over the past four years, we have faced them five times. This is an injured team. This is not far from being the biggest difficulty we had to face. They made adjustments. They are playing a match where they have everything to gain,” warns Fabien Galthié. Especially since the Blues will have to do without Antoine Dupont, the best player in the world. With influence and aura without equivalence.
The composition of France: Ramos – Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Bielle-Biarrey – Jalibert (o), Lucu (m) – Ollivon (cap.), Alldritt, Jelonch – Flament, Woki – Atonio, Mauvaka, BailleRemplaçants: Bourgarit, Wardi, Aldegheri, Taofifenua, Cros, Couilloud, Moefana, Jaminet
Of course, everyone still has in mind the historic rout that the Italians have just suffered against the All Blacks (96-17). A violent slap that could leave marks. Or galvanize the vindictive Transalpines as they challenge their French neighbors and try to secure a historic qualification for the quarter-finals. Kieran Crowley, the New Zealand coach of the Nazionale, quickly remobilized his troops. “We told the players that a match does not define who they are,” he insisted. Just like a bad article or a good article does not define a journalist. In itself, it’s the same thing. Poor performance does not define who you are. But three, four or five, that defines you.” In recent months, Italy has regained color after years of scarcity and disappointments. Ending seven years of defeats in the Tournament in 2022 by winning at the finish in Cardiff against Wales (21-22). Ending 2022 with an encouraging record of five wins and six losses. This year, the results (despite five losses) were tighter in the Six Nations. The Blues remain on their guard.
The composition of Italy :Capuozzo – Bruno, Brex, Garbisi, Ioane – (o) Allan, (m) Varney – Lamaro (cap.), L. Cannone, Negri – Ruzza, N. Cannone – Ceccarelli, Faiva, FerrariRemplaçants : Manfredi, Zani, Riccioni, Sisi, Zuliani, Fusco, Morisi, Pani
A return of weight. Last minute withdrawal against Namibia after suffering a knee shock in training, Grégory Alldritt regains his starting place with the Blues this Friday. Unavoidable. “It wasn’t anything bad but, rather than finishing the competition at 75%, I preferred to take three or four days to get back to 100%,” he said this week. I’m working hard to get in shape, I don’t want to get too ahead of myself but I can’t wait.” And the number 8 from La Rochelle, considered one of the best players on the world circuit, admits that he has ants in his legs: “I beat my maximum speed this week, I exceeded 30 km/h ! It was a big moment for me (Laughs). I feel very good, we worked a lot this summer, then we were also able to regenerate and recover. We feel like everyone is in great shape, the organizations are at their best.” Reassuring as we approach the final sprint in this World Cup, which begins with a tough duel against the Italians.
The third and last defeat in the history of the Blues (in 47 confrontations since 1937) dates back to 2013 and a 23-18 setback. At the time, Philippe Saint-André had tasted the “joys” of a failed weekend in Rome, like Marc Lièvremont two years earlier (22-21). Since then, the Blues have never fallen into trouble. But they came close to corrections twice. In 2016, Sergio Parisse almost gave victory to the Nazionale at the Stade de France against the Blues of Guy Novès (23-21) by attempting a drop in the last second. But he had failed in his improbable attempt. Closer to home, the last success against the Italians in the Tournament (24-29) was more difficult. Horribly undisciplined (18 penalties conceded!) and uninspired, Fabien Galthié’s players had to rely on a brilliant move from Matthieu Jalibert (68th), who came on as Romain Ntamack, to pick up the offensive bonus. And, in the final moments, the French forwards had to work to counter a penetrating Italian group and avoid a humiliating defeat. A last sluggish confrontation that will have to be kept in mind.
In a match that could be closer than we think, the scorers could have a vital role to play. The French XV is particularly well armed in this sector with Thomas Ramos, who at the start of the year became the best scorer in the history of the French XV in a Tournament (82 points, ahead of Gérald Merceron, 80). The Stade Toulousain fullback has already scored 41 points in two matches (All Blacks, Namibia), including 12 conversions during the offensive festival against African players (96-0). In 2023, he averaged 17 points per game. And one stat sums up his effectiveness: Thomas Ramos has never missed more than two kicking attempts per game this season. Opposite, the Nazionale is also well off with the versatile Tommaso Allan, started on Friday at the opening (Paolo Garbisi being shifted to the center against the Blues). The Harlequins player has already scored 32 points but, above all, he has not missed any of his 15 attempts against the poles. He also became, during the third World Cup he has played in since 2015, the best Italian director in the World Cup (99 points), erasing from the shelves the record of the icon Diego Dominguez (98). Mistrust.