XV of France: a team was born in Cardiff

Special envoy to Cardiff

This French team has guts. Character and fierce determination. With her young managers and her intrepid novices, she is not afraid of anything. Neither of the boiling context of the Millennium, nor of the Red Devils who had promised them hell. This French team has everything of great. A reinforced concrete defense (thank you Mr. Shaun Edwards). A pragmatism illustrated by a recourse without false modesty to footwork to loosen the opponent's grip. The composure of old briscards. Or, rather, cheeky kids that nothing disturbs.

Add to that beautiful talents behind and great warriors in front, a striker who never trembles (Romain Ntamack) and, with the baton a staff with undeniable skill, with relentless requirement. You then obtain a XV of France which imposes itself in Cardiff for the first time since 2010, year of the last… Grand Slam. Which snatches a victorious result on the lawn of a major nation for the first time since 2011 and a success in Ireland. This shows the performance of these intrepid and valiant young Roosters.

Unperturbed in thunder and lightning

If two-storey flames and a sparkling firework under the metal cover of the Millennium had greeted the Blues, in the hope of spinning the chocottes, it is the young teammates of Charles Ollivon, imperturbable in the thunder and the lightnings, which lit the fire. A candle. Teddy Thomas and Leigh Halfpenny wrestling in the air. Without a winner… except Anthony Bouthier who appears, grabs the precious oval and takes the outer ring road to flatten between the posts from the 6th minute (3-7).

Large tackles in rucks constantly slowed down, the Blues contain the Welsh and exploit each ball recovered to silence the Millennium. In the 28th, on a sharp revival of Bouthier, a relay of Vakatawa, a millimeter transverse of Ntamack captured and deposited in the Welsh in-goal by Gaël Fickou, we say that these Blues are in a state of grace. The ace ! The English referee, Mr. Carley, legitimately cancels the try for a forward pass between Bouthier and Vakatawa.

Admirable determination and rage at 14

Not enough to break the tricolor going. Two minutes later, touch in the 22 Welsh meters, catch of Ollivon and Willemse plays with everything with three defenders to flatten in force. And as Romain Ntamack does not miss anything at the foot, the XV of France, at half an hour of play, leads 17 to 6. A third penalty from Biggar reduces his team to eight points (9-17, 34th) before the big moment of this match.

For ten minutes - including 5 and 51 seconds beyond regulation time - the Welsh pounded the French in-goal. The repetition of penalties even ends up costing Grégory Alldritt a yellow card. But, even at 14, Fickou, the defense captain, and his partners, admirable in determination and rage, refuse the inevitable, tackle with strength to keep their clean line. A long streak that seemed to be mistaken at the turn of the match.

At the resumption, the Welsh insist, end up getting this test after minutes of effort, in force by their pillar Dillon Lewis, to return to a small point (16-17, 48th) but their hope will be short-lived. Three minutes later, Romain Ntamack, designated man of the match, intercepts a hot ball 60 meters from Welsh in-goal. No one will see him again (16-24, 51st). The Toulouse opener will add a penalty to complete his goal-free flaw (16-27, 63rd).

An extra soul that commands respect

Fears, there will be a few, however. On a tackle, Paul Willemse kicks the ball on a two against a decisive. The Welsh captain, 136 selections alone against 101 for the whole tricolor pack, claims a penalty try. In vain. On the ensuing scrum series, Mohamed Haouas takes a yellow card (68th). The blue boat is pitching. It smells of hallali. But while they are believed to be in agony, overwhelmed, finished, the three-color forwards turn the situation around, break into the fray and recover the ball and penalty. An extra soul that commands respect.

In the 75th minute, after a furious new streak of defense, Dan Biggar will end up scoring the second try for his team. To return to 23-27 and let fear the worst. A defeat on the thread that his heroic Blues do not deserve. They will not lose. Self-assured until the last second, supported by "Allez les Bleus" who had long since replaced Welsh songs. A last balloon recovered in the ground battle, a small general to definitively prove that this team has a character of hardened steel and it will be the issue. The birth certificate of a team that will grow, grow, until the 2023 World Cup. And, why not, go into three weeks in history. For this it will be necessary to win in Edinburgh on March 8. And treat yourself to a gala evening at the Stade de France facing Ireland on March 14.

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