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Scotland breaks the dreams of coronation of the XV of France

2021-03-26T22:22:34.836Z


Beaten on the line by Scotland (23-27) this Friday, in Saint-Denis, the Blues finished in second place in the Tournament.


Special envoy to the Stade de France

Les Bleus de Galthié subscribers in second place

Still missed.

Last year, the XV of France finished in second place in the Tournament, ahead of the goal average by England.

Before, in December, to bow on the meadow of Twickenham and to sudden death during the final of the Nations Cup of autumn, still preceded by the XV of the Rose.

This time, it is Wales which steals first place from the Blues.

To pass the Red Devils, Charles Ollivon and his teammates had to largely dominate Scotland, winning with a margin of 21 points.

But, Friday evening, in the wind and in the rain which sprayed the Stade de France, they never managed to widen the gap.

Remaining within range of defeat until the end of the match.

And the worst came after stoppage in the 85th minute, when Duhan Van der Merwe, the South African-born golgoth winger, scored his second try of the evening.

To offer Scotland its first victory at the Stade de France since 1999. The Blues will have to wait another year to finally hope to win a Tournament that has eluded them since 2010.

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A XV of France too nervous

Complicated to put ideas in order, serenity in gestures when you have to score a lot and defend well.

This tender team of France (26 years old and 23 selections on average) still lacks composure, collective mastery, even leaders, to achieve a recital without false note.

A nervousness which, for example, cost a yellow card to Baptiste Serin barely come into play in the relay of Antoine Dupont (73rd).

In the game, the Blues are also guilty of too many ball losses.

And, while it was necessary to be efficient and surgical in attack, they left several test opportunities in the way.

Too much waste for an impossible perfect match.

The Scots have not let go

They had said so during the week.

It "drunk" them to hear the goal posted by the XV of France.

As if they were going to accept without flinching to concede four tries to concede a large setback.

A matter of pride.

Vexed to still be considered a small team, they who, since 2015, have shown real progress.

The proof, in case of success at the Stade de France, they could hope to finish in second place in the Tournament.

They therefore battled on all the balls, constantly pushed in attack to try to win in Paris after having achieved the feat at Twickenham at the opening of the Tournament (a first since 1983).

Never defeated, the Caledonians responded in quick succession.

Scoring a try (lucky) by Cherry, allowing them to come back in front of the score (18-20, 60th).

Despite a reply from Rebbadj (23-20, 65th), they never gave up.

To impose itself on the wire.

The pack had however put back the forward march

Certainly the pressure of the stake.

Still, the Blues have missed in large width their first twenty minutes.

Hand errors in spades.

And a test cashed in the 14th minute after a long pick-and-go session inflicted by the Scottish forwards.

In the 18th minute, the XV du Chardon led 10 to 3 and the XV of France seemed to be permanently entangled in its uncertainties.

The start will come from the tricolor scrum.

In the 22nd minute, in a good collective effort, the pack won the confrontation.

The French will now camp in the opposing half of the field.

Unfortunately, leaving several clear opportunities in the works.

But Ollivon and his forwards insist, ask for scrum at almost every penalty.

Behind one of them, the ball goes to Damian Penaud, who escapes two defenders before serving Brice Dulin.

Test.

France is finally back in front of the score (13-10, 36th).

And finds himself in numerical superiority after the yellow card inflicted on the Scottish captain, Stuart Hogg for one fault too many.

On resumption, a test by Damian Penaud, after a long relaunch initiated by Brice Dulin in the 22 French meters, had given hope for a happier outcome (18-10, 46th).

Not for a long time.

Read also

  • France-Scotland: the three tests of the Blues on video

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-03-26

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