It will be necessary to launch a study on the benefits of the air of La Rochelle.
In the wake of Jules Plisson, who rediscovered sensations and performances in Charente-Maritime after losing them at the Stade Français, Brice Dulin is following the same path.
Not retained by Racing 92 after an injury and at the end of a season aborted by the Covid-19, the rear headed west.
For his own good and that of the Maritimes, current leaders of the Top 14.
Back on Saturday night in blue after three years of absence, Dulin was named man of the match against Italy (36-5).
His last cap was on June 24, 2017, at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, where the XV of France had largely bowed (35-12) against the Springboks.
Since then, the international career of the talent formed in Agen by the duo Christian Lanta-Christophe Deylaud was written in dots.
"Brice is a bit like my son, you know," likes to remind Lanta, now Perpignan coach in Pro D2.
Saturday, in a padlocked match where the clear and assumed tactics were long reduced to kicking - the Blues played 47 times in this way, 11 for the only Dulin -, it was long believed that the native of Agen was not going to gratify us with his hand raises.
But once the score acquired with the supersonic breakthrough of Gabin Villière (55th), Dulin put aside the tactical considerations to finally sow panic in the transalpine rear lines.
After a restart on yet another Italian foot game, he served his former Racing 92 teammate Teddy Thomas perfectly.
🏉 Teddy Thomas' lightning acceleration allows the XV of France to afford a 4th try!
The Blues scored three tries in 8 minutes (19-0) and sanctioned the Italian numerical inferiority!
#FRAITA
▶ Follow the match live: https://t.co/73kN3LGE3J pic.twitter.com/4Uh5jLJd5n
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) November 28, 2020
At the rear position, if the hierarchy in the France team seems clearly established with the revelation Anthony Bouthier and his Toulouse liner Thomas Ramos, the return of Brice Dulin is it likely to upset the certainties of the tricolor staff?
“If Galthié
(Editor's note: the coach of the XV of France)
can scratch his head, it is rather a good sign, believes Christian Lanta.
This is proof of a good tank.
"
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The Rochelais shares with Bouthier and Ramos the qualities of recovery and a good kick.
“Bouthier and Ramos, whom I also really like, have the power but Brice adds precision to it,” Lanta pleads.
In a logic of occupation, this is important.
“Saturday evening, the coach also praised the efficiency of the tricolor kicks, evoking 87% efficiency in the field.
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In addition to the recovery and kicking, Dulin's ease on aerial balls despite a modest size (1.76 m for 82 kg) pleads in his favor.
“In the current rugby model, where the foot pressure game is back on trend, he reassures his teammates by capturing as many balls, continues Lanta.
He might miss a ball, but not many others.
Brice is comfortable in the air because it comes from his past in Basque pelota where he shone in the youth categories.
“For Lanta, his protégé reaches full maturity at 30 and can bring his experience from the top of his 30 selections.