How extensive will the spanking be?
For a week, and the qualification of the XV of France for the final of this first (and undoubtedly unique) Autumn Nations Cup, this is the question that keeps coming back.
On the one hand, the English, vice-world champions, who appear this Sunday at Twickenham (3 p.m.) with all their strength, determined to make Fabien Galthié's troop pay for the affront of last February, their only defeat of the year 2020. On the other hand, a French team deprived of all its best elements, this new team which, since Galthié took office, has been flying from success to success (7 wins in 8 games).
Blame it on an abstruse, ubiquitous Franco-French agreement.
Professional clubs have accepted an inflated November tour of six tests (instead of three) on the condition that each Blue is not fielded more than three times ...
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Led by their new captain Charles Ollivon, they beat the Welsh, Irish and Scots before returning to the fold.
Place, not for replacements, also demobilized, but for reservists.
For an unlikely formation.
The starting XV?
68 cumulative selections, including 30 for Brice Dulin alone.
Kids of 20, 21 or 22 with one or two selection ends.
A captain, scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud, 23 years old and first tenure ... In comparison, his English counterpart, Ben Youngs, posted 103 selections.
More to him alone than all the XV of France!
Eight world champions in the under-20s
It will therefore be a spanking, it is acquired.
A fate that these young Blues refuse.
Brave, they even speak of triumphing in the deserted temple of rugby of its faithful (they will still be 2,000, the gauge authorized by the British government at the beginning of the week, lost in this concrete monster which can accommodate 92,000).
A temple where the Blues have not been taxed since 2007;
where, during their last visit a year and a half ago under the orders of Jacques Brunel, they were crushed 44-8.
“We have ambition,” roared Killian Geraci.
More than the underwear that we are promised, we want to go for a victory.
We work for.
If we go there thinking we're going to lose, that's what's going to happen.
So we're going there to do something. "
The red giant, Tormund Fléau-d'Ogres style in
Game of Thrones
, has a peculiarity.
He is already world champion.
Twice.
In 2018 and 2019 with the French under-20 team.
A status that seven of its partners can also claim.
A common past, a very useful nascent confidence.
"Despite their young age, they show a lot of maturity," said Fabien Galthié.
They are impressive in their capacity for assimilation. "
“We were in contention until the end to win the Tournament. For our second competition, we still find ourselves in a position to win ”
Fabien Galthie
Constrained and forced, the coach therefore already projects them on the front of the stage.
What did not fail to surprise the adversary.
Ben Youngs thus expressed his disbelief when he learned at the beginning of the week that he would not find Antoine Dupont in front of him.
The English press, it is outright indignant, speaking of a "farce", a "masquerade".
Attacks from which Eddie Jones was well guarded.
Eddie Jones keeps a low profile
The coach coach, last February, had played with fire.
“The French have decided to leave for this Tournament with no experience.
We are going to put these young players to the test, because they have never been confronted with the intensity and the physical brutality with which we are going to play. "
Result, the Blues, upset and proud, had won 24-17.
So this time he played it low profile.
“We don't care who they line up.
Whatever the France team, it will be competitive.
They've won the last two U-20 World Cups, they have a lot of good, young players.
But that doesn't bother us. ”
We would swear a little anyway.
If the Marie-Louise decked out in blue were to succeed this Sunday, Eddie Jones would pass for the turkey of the farce.
Fabien Galthié is much more serene.
In less than a year, he replaced the XV of France in 4th place in the world, ending a decade of sad performances.
In the event of rout at Twickenham, he will benefit from extenuating circumstances.
An exploit, on the other hand, would strengthen its aura a little more.
And would already offer him a first line on his record.
“We were in contention until the end to win the Tournament (finally 2nd in the goal average behind England).
For our second competition, we still find ourselves in a position to win. "
And to hit hard.
Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Italy are already on the hunt.
Only England is missing to achieve an unprecedented autumn Grand Slam.
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