Youth was expected at the turn but it is "the old" who shone at the Stade de France.
Who showed the way against Italy.
Brice Dulin, the only thirty-year-old holder against the Transalpines (Uini Atonio, also 30, was a replacement), recalled the good memories of the French staff, three years after his last selection during the failed tour in South Africa at the summer 2017 under the orders of Guy Novès.
The rear of Stade Rochelais blended perfectly into Fabien Galthié's game plan, which consisted in favoring kicking.
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Solid in the air, he recovered two of his own candles and supported Matthieu Jalibert in the busy kicking game (11 kicks attempted).
The double champion of France (with Castres in 2013 and Racing 92 in 2016) also managed to place some sharp raises, in particular a decisive acceleration on the test of Teddy Thomas.
Fabien Galthié, rarely laudatory when discussing personal cases, nevertheless wanted to salute his performance.
“He was excellent.
In his precision with his left foot, his placement and his replacement.
He was also very efficient in aerial duels, very present as a ball carrier with several crossings, sometimes decisive.
He had a very good match, ”insisted the French coach.
Laurent Labit knows him well
Within this more than experimental XV of France, the return to blue of Dulin, for a 30th selection, was surprising.
But, in the absence of the revelation Anthony Bouthier, injured in the knee and absent for six weeks, and Thomas Ramos, affected by the limit of three games this fall, the neo-Rochelais was entitled to a new chance.
Supported by Laurent Labit, deputy in charge of three-quarter tricolors who worked alongside him in the Tarn, then the Hauts-de-Seine.
In La Rochelle, Brice Dulin has found a second youth (6 games and one try this season).
Rid of the physical glitches that polluted the end of his Ile-de-France adventure.
In 2018, he suffered a rupture of the cruciate ligaments of the knee and subsequently struggled to regain his best level.
Months of doubt, of questioning.
“I had six months of difficult recovery. I asked myself the question of knowing if it would ever come back ”
Brice Dulin
“After going through difficult times, it's the work that pays off.
When I had the chance to be able to play again after my injury, I was not very efficient at the start, but I was trusted, ”he says.
And to confide his "fear of not returning to (his) best level": "I spent six months of difficult recovery.
I had pain, blockages.
I wondered if it would ever come back.
But it's back, it's behind, we don't think about it at all… ”And we look ahead.
Are the cards now reshuffled behind the XV of France?
Stade Rochelais number 15 has shown that he is more than an alternative, more than a third choice.
“At our level, anyone must be ready anytime and anywhere,” insists Fabien Galthié.
At 30, Brice Dulin brilliantly responded.
Off the cuff.
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