At the Stade de France
The task was complicated.
Almost impossible.
After the lone rider of England in Rome (34-5), the Blues had to beat Ireland with a gap of 31 points and register at least 4 tries, synonymous with offensive bonus.
In the face of the great green men, the hope of such a triumph was slim.
And, indeed, Ollivon and his partners did not achieve this objective, leaving the victory of the Six Nations Tournament to the XV de la Rose.
For not much in the end.
The Blues took the offensive bonus.
To have as many points as England.
But they accuse a disbursement of 23 points on the goal-average.
We can regret these three missed tackles on the Irish Henshaw's try at the hour mark, when the French were leading 28 to 13 and seemed able to make their domination fruitful.
Or, going back eight months earlier, to February 9 and this painstaking success against Italy, 35 to 22, which is expensive in the fall.
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But, objectively, there is no need to be disappointed.
If the XV of France did not achieve the impossible, he still, once again, amazed.
Solidarity, even heroic in defense.
Bold and brilliant in attack.
Realizing practically each of his forays into the Irish 40 meters.
By a penalty of an infallible Ntamack or almost (6/7).
Or tests once again breathtaking, which would certainly have raised the stands if the Stade de France had not been, once again, desperately empty.
French Flair flashback
A number of Fickou on his wing for the test of the inevitable Dupont (7th);
a penalty attempt for a tackle without a ball on Cros;
a counter led drum-beating by Ntamack, Fickou and Dupont for a try of the first named (44th);
a kick over Ntamack received by himself to serve Vakatawa (72nd).
A real offensive treat.
A confirmation of the flashback of French Flair.
For a victory, in this 100th confrontation between France and Ireland, 35 to 27.
Fabien Galthié, more than an improbable feat, demanded consistency in the game, regularity in the results.
It's done.
His troops confirmed their great success against the Welsh a week earlier (38-21).
Of the six matches at the start of the new coach's mandate, the XV of France has five wins.
And only one quack, in Scotland.
With this success, savored by a few dance steps and cries of joy by the Blues, the XV of France finished in second place in the Tournament.
A rank he had not reached since 2011. Nine long years.
Moreover, the Tricolores double their victims of the day in the world ranking, taking the fourth place in the planetary hierarchy.
And, finally, a future that seems less gloomy.
Galthié and his men had set a mission for this match: to give joy to their supporters in this depressing period.
They did a little more.
They also gave them pride.
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