On the eve of facing Wales in Cardiff, this Saturday (5:45 pm), the Blues have something to be reassured. It only took a breath of youth and two successes at the Stade de France against England (24-17) on February 2, and Italy (35-22), on 9, for them to renew indeed with historic popularity levels: 82% of French and 97% of rugby fans have a good opinion, according to the survey carried out by Odoxa for the Sport-RTL-Groupama barometer. The study was conducted on 1,005 French people aged 18 and over, including 403 rugby fans, on the Internet on February 19 and 20.
Results that go back to the level obtained between October 2015 and February 2017. By February 2018 and May 2019, the popularity of the Habs had dropped and hovered around 60%.
… But not the Grand Slam
The other big winner is the coach Fabien Galthié: 84% of the French and 97% of rugby fans believe that he is a good coach. Finally, the French and amateurs believe in the success of the Blues in Wales, 68% for the former, 72% for the latter. They even think that the French people will win the Six Nations Tournament (62% for the French and 70% for rugby fans). Only small shadow on the board, they do not see the XV of France achieve the Grand Slam. They are 61% of the French and 63% of the amateurs to think that the step is still a little too high.