France U20 crucified on the wire by New Zealand: What we liked and didn't like

The French U-20 team fell Thursday, July 4, Sébastien Calvet's men surrendered to the counter-corps. New Zealand (26-27). However, in the second half (11-0), the Tricolores collided with the power of the Baby Blacks, who were awarded a penalty in the last second by video. What cruelty! We will have to beat Wales on the last day, and we keep our fingers crossed.

What we liked

• Bleuets' great start

Sébastien Calvet said during the week that he had mentioned the Baby Blacks' very long and very warlike haka and prepared his players accordingly. And indeed, the most warlike on the pitch during the first minutes were indeed the French in this match.

The New Zealanders stumbled from the start after a missed touch, forced to defend their line, managed to repel the first Blues attack at the cost of great courage but collapsed before even 5 minutes had gone. First attempt from Xan Busquets, put in orbit by Hugo Rios who started the match well.

• French brawl again

Certainly the strength of the France U20 team since the start of the World Cup. As in the match against Spain, the French scrum dominated its subject, such as the left-handed Racing 92 driver Lino Jullien who caused his opponent to suffer in the first period (16^H26^H35^H). A strong sector that coach Sebastien Calvet can take advantage of to advance in this competition.

• View and reeds of Quere Karaba

My God, his interception did the French good! After leaving the dressing room badly, they suffered a lot at the beginning of the second half. Then came Joe Kerry Carrabba (50^H). In the reading, Toulon exposed himself to the New Zealand run to cut the passing line between the opener and the first half and managed to steal the ball.

His incredible speed did the rest, covering the 70 metres that separated him from the opponent's goal. It was also he who was decisive in Matthijs Werthe's article (74^H). Without a doubt the man of the match for the French team.

What we didn't like

• Awad leaves injured

Zinedine Aouad, a strong asset for the group and the French team, had to leave his partners behind a lot in the game. Shortly after the first quarter of an hour, the Bordeaux right-back was tackled and saw his ankle turn as he fell. He was released with the help of two trainers and replaced by Thomas Duchêne. We fear that the competition for Aouad is over on the French side. Note that Duchêne will also be out with a shoulder injury. Bad luck.

• This funny rule allows the ball to be stopped on return.

Is this our precious, resilient side? However, one of the new rules tested during the 2020 World Cup has left us scratching our heads over the possibility of abuse. Indeed, a player who receives a kick back from 22 metres away is now allowed to save the ball. Leo Carbonneau had a chance at the end of the first half.

Then he launched a French cell of three attackers who buried the ball, long enough for the whistle to sound and then for Reus to take it out of bounds. At the time, it was still hard to see the spirit of this rule, which was supposed to be for the good of the game.

If the party was working well, the touch was the black spot on the French side. Too much waste, misunderstanding and balloons eventually got back to New Zealand. Whether in the defensive or offensive phase, cutting off attacking opportunities. If the Baby Blacks can get back into this game, the French failure to connect is no stranger to them.

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