This is not quite the outcome that Fabien Galthié and his men had dreamed of.
By finishing, finally, second in a Tournament interrupted in the spring by the coronavirus pandemic, the XV of France returns to a place that it had not occupied since 2011 under the era of Marc Lièvremont.
And we shouldn't count on the English to make our job easier.
By winning widely in Italy at the end of the afternoon (34-5), the XV de la Rose had taken control of the classification and made the equation complex for the Habs.
The Blues had to largely dominate Ireland - a team against which they remained on three defeats in a row in the Six Nations Tournament - with the bonus and at least 31 points difference.
It was not mission impossible, but almost.
Especially since the closed door imposed at the Stade de France and the rain which regularly fell on the enclosure did not encourage people to surpass themselves and to take off.
Youthful mistakes
However, the young blue guard did not stop at these mathematical considerations to attack foot to the floor and register the first try by Dupont to the relay of the elusive Gaël Fickou (7th, 7-0), repositioned on the wing after Teddy Thomas' package.
The Parisian player has taken on a dimension which now makes him an indisputable and versatile framework.
But the youthful ardor of our Blues sometimes leads to excess.
It is the charm and the disadvantage of an inexperienced selection, with 18 selections and 26 years of average age.
The back Anthony Bouthier is guilty of a gesture which earned him a temporary exclusion (10th).
Penalties which will have been expensive throughout the Tournament with an average of 10 penalties per match which make the teammates of Captain Charles Ollivon the most penalized in the competition.
"It's too much at the international level", warned coach Fabien Galthié during the week.
At the break, the XV of France is also in its usual rhythm side sanctions with eight penalties committed.
Refreshing efficiency
Fortunately, the offensive play compensates for the indiscipline on the French side.
With 17 tries, the French offensive record is the best of the six nations.
The start of the match and half-time, once the guilty pleasure of the Blues, are also almost perfect, with an efficiency that allows them to inflict an 8-0 after returning from the locker room (25-13, 44th).
We will not say that the English, comfortably installed in their hotel in Rome, while waiting to receive the trophy, trembled.
But thanks to the boot of Romain Ntamack, the XV of France is only 16 points, a little more than two tries transformed, to double the representatives of his Majesty.
The relief comes on a flash of Toulousain who serves Vakatawa (71st) for the test of the bonus which knocks out the Irish.
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Small consolation, the XV of France exceeds its opponent of the day in the world ranking by seizing 4th place.
Fabien Galthié's desire to join the concert of the great nations is underway.
