Rugby. Six Nations 2023: fiery attack, feverish defense, what results for the Blues? -Rugby
2023 Six Nations Tournament
An already well-established XV
This Six Nations has already made it possible to identify a typical team for the next World Cup at home (September 8 – October 28). Ramos, whose success at the foot and his agreement with the Dupont-Ntamack hinge worked wonders, should settle at the rear position. Jaminet, the only player not to come on against the Welsh, lost big. Moefana was unable to upset the hierarchy in the center when Danty was injured at the start of the Tournament. Despite two tries scored, Dumortier still seems a little tender. Villière, who should be back in April, holds the rope to be Penaud’s counterpart on the left wing. In the third line, Jelonch, operated after his serious injury against Scotland, begins a race against time to be restored in time. In his absence, the Ollivon-Alldritt-Cros trio gave guarantees. Flament, sparkling in attack as in defense, is unanimous and should evolve in the cage with Willemse.
A fire attack
174 points scored, 21 tries… The Les Bleus attack shone during this Six Nations Tournament. This is a record for the XV of France in the competition. In comparison, during the Grand Slam in 2022, Fabien Galthié’s men had scored 141 points and 17 tries. This attacking firework, culminating in the historic success at Twickenham (53-10), was made possible by a formidable efficiency in the opposing 22 meters, worthy of the big teams. Damian Penaud finished as the Tournament’s top try scorer with five goals. But the strength of the French was to be able to vary the playing times and the threats to the opponents. Thus, in addition to the Clermont winger, five other players have flattened several times (three times for Flament and Ramos and twice for Fickou, Ollivon and Dumortier).
A perfect defense
This is the big downside of the Tournament. France suffered a lot and conceded (too) many points: 115 to be precise. Far from the 73 of the last edition. The Blues also conceded twice as many tries (14 against 7).
“We often give points to the opponent, regretted Antoine Dupont after the victory against Wales. We have to manage to be more rigorous throughout the match. The new rules on rucks have also disturbed the French. “We had to adapt to new rules. We still need to understand them better to improve, ”admitted the coach of the Blues Fabien Galthié. But, after being penalized 18 times in Italy in the first match, the XV of France conceded only six penalties against Wales to conclude the Tournament.
Sovereign at home
“At home, we have one defeat in four years, in stoppage time against Scotland when the match was won”. Galthié is not mistaken. Since this frustrating setback when Brice Dulin forgot to send the ball into touch almost two years ago, the Blues have had eleven straight wins on their home soil. More generally, the coach has an impressive record of 17 wins in 18 home games since taking office after the 2019 World Cup in Japan. Far from trivial before playing the next World Cup in front of his audience.
letelegramme Fr Trans
