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Up to date:
Feb 1, 2023
French rugby is experiencing a golden interval, with a younger facet brimming with verve and confidence. France have gone from flaky and irritating to fabulous within the area of a few years. They’ve grow to be the impartial’s darling, enjoying with the customary French aptitude of yesteryears. However this French facet has the substance to match the type, the heart to match the glamour. At present favourites for their very own World Cup in September, can they deal with the stress?
2022 was a superb 12 months for the French, successful all their ten matches and stretching their unbeaten run to 13 video games. They sealed a primary Grand Slam in twelve years by enjoying some scintillating rugby, combining brute energy with Harlem Globetrotters-esque dealing with. What was particularly spectacular about France’s rugby was how ruthless they had been, exhibiting a new-found precision within the pink zone. In addition they confirmed a capability to edge tight video games, a significant trait of any good facet. Their autumn victories over Australia and South Africa had been snatched close to the demise. This French facet has character and self-belief, a grit to match the glint.
The present French facet has grow to be recognized for throwing the ball round with a joie de vivre. Nonetheless, should you peek beneath the magic, the French play with calculated precision. They’re devastating across the ruck space, the place scrum-half and captain Antoine Dupont is very deadly. France usually look to flood by way of a channel, with a giant emphasis on help runners and offloading. It’s a sport constructed on relentless momentum, with their hard-carrying forwards busting the achieve line and creating fast ball. The French abide by the previous cliche of incomes the suitable to go vast, choosing their moments. After they go vast, in winger Damien Penaud, they’ve one of many sport’s most deadly finishers. The French profit from astute decision-making, which is spectacular given the facet’s relative inexperience.
France additionally kicked extra ball than another facet in 2022. Nonetheless, they kick with a goal, searching for to pin the opposition again and watch for them to make a mistake. Their kick-chase is great, and so they search to turnover the ball deep of their opponent’s territory; in transition, there’s no one extra deadly than the French. France’s defence has been utterly revolutionised below Shaun Edwards, and they’re usually blissful to cede possession, displaying a newfound endurance. They turned over extra ball than anybody else in 2022, an space the place Gregory Alldritt, particularly, is a goliath.
Fabien Galthié has named eight uncapped gamers in his 42-man squad for the match. There are some notable absentees; France will miss the highly effective presence of Jonathan Danty within the centres, whereas the versatile Cameron Woki additionally misses out by way of damage. Danty’s damage might hand a debut to nineteen-year-old Émilien Gailleton, the thrilling younger centre who captained France’s U20 staff final 12 months and has been carving up timber for Pau this season. The one fear for France can be in the event that they bought accidents in key positions, with an absence of expertise behind their props, Cyril Baille and Uini Atonio particularly.
France start their match with a visit to Rome. The bettering Azzurri ought to characterize little risk, and Galthié will hope his gamers come by way of unscathed forward of their crunch match in opposition to Eire in spherical two. Their match at The Aviva may have a big bearing on the title, and it’s a disgrace it’s being performed so early within the match. France are one of many few sides who’ve the potential to ruffle Eire’s staunch defence, however the important thing battle might be on the breakdown, the place Eire boasts a grasp poacher in World Rugby Participant of the 12 months, Josh van der Flier. There’s little between the 2 sides, and the outcome will possible be determined by whose extra correct on the day. France ought to dispatch with Scotland in spherical three earlier than they journey to Twickenham in spherical 4. The French have an abysmal file in London, however that is the perfect French facet to go to Twickenham in a very long time. They shut out the match at dwelling to Wales, a sport they need to win comfortably.
France has the potential to repeat their success of 2022; they must be cautious of complacency, although. The important thing sport might be their journey to Dublin, a seismic encounter that hopefully lives as much as its billing. France now has the burden of expectation, a troublesome beast to tame. However this French facet is fabricated from stern stuff, and for rugby’s sake, hopefully, they’ll replicate a number of the gorgeous rugby they produced in 2022. The sky is the restrict for this fledging French facet.
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