Communicative fervor, on-date executives, pockets of air…the likes and dislikes of success on the blues wire

France, defeated a week ago in Edinburgh, took revenge on Saturday 12 August by defeating Scotland (30-27). The snag was fixed but the stitches seemed brittle at times. At times the men of Fabien Galthé, cheerful, sometimes nonchalant, are clearly still on the run. There is less than a month before the start of the World Cup for the troops to be in perfect battle condition.

We loved it

Hinge and plunger slide together

At first creaks a little. Romain Ntamak did not weigh and Antoine Dupont threw a direct kick on touch. Then the fluidity returned with the help of the Charles Olivon piston. Game facilitator, the third line puts oil all over the blue gears, firing into the Scots defence. Author of Furious Climbing in Defence, he was also a finalist in the Tricolor Test. His 13th in his selection, a total that could please many wards. Also thanks to his activity, the Dupont-Ntamack joint was able to restore its mechanism. Then, the buddy’s natural class did the rest, between hikes, combinations, and skips. Like that, rugby is easy after all.

Saint-Etienne is not just a football stadium

While the Green Party supporters had sadly pointed themselves out earlier in the afternoon, the people of Furezin mentioned that they could also be an extraordinary crowd. The cauldron will book, throughout the game, unconditional support for the Blues, double Marseille and push like the sixteenth man. Boil, but do not overflow.

Scotland, better than a sparring partner

The Scots are often said to be “black kids”, mostly because they always want to liven up the ball. Le Chardon hasn’t lived up to its reputation for suffocating rhythm prints, enhanced by the moist heat of the Forézian air. Perfect for those Blues who, in exactly 27 days, will open “their” World Cup against the New Zealanders. A perfect experiment which proved that Galthié’s men, despite being a month late in their preparations against their evening opponents, were ready to take the lead without hesitation. Obviously, the whole thing isn’t just struggling against heavyweight All Black.

The path of wisdom

Punished for 14 runs during the first clash at Murrayfield, the France XV eased their wine by conceding half as many fouls. A challenge against an opponent who is also a player (211 passes for Scotland versus 89 for the Blues). System has been found, and welcome, which proves that, even under pressure, Tricolors know how to keep their nerve. This quality will serve them well in the coming weeks.

We didn’t like

Air holes gap that defy

Already rebounded in the second half last week in Edinburgh, France plunged again. While the return from the locker room did not bode well, with two attempts as if on parade and an orgy of play, the Blues died suddenly. More sound, more pictures. In full physical preparation for maximum performance when things really matter, she seemed physically cooked at times. And when the body doesn’t follow, the fouls add up: 14 missed balls, a lousy total at this level. malice that blacks will not forgive.

XV do not have enough

Possession doesn’t mean winning (meanwhile, on a football pitch, PSG’s Luis Enrique learned that the hard way), but more ball control will certainly help avoid some cold sweats at the end of the game. Against Chardonne, the Blues tended a lot to leave the opponent’s skin (60%), as if they were stung. With a scratch like Gregory Alldritt and arrows like the amazing Damian Penaud, the Habs’ counter talent can often suffice, but Galthié’s men would do well to control the game better. Begins.

Absence of the ghoul hogg

It is hardly left when there is already a void. As is so often the case on the ground, Stuart Hogg got everyone on the wrong foot by announcing, a few weeks ago, his immediate retirement from the field. To a slightly lesser extent, this departure corresponds to the disruption caused by the departure of Johnny Wilkinson from English selection or Brian O’Driscoll from Ireland’s XV. With his unquenchable appetite for balloons, and his thirst for heights, Hough was a bulimic like you never saw him anymore. Old fashioned number 15. This Saturday evening, the Scotland team missed it. And ours too.