In recent years, a trip to Ireland in the Six Nations Tournament obeyed rather clear principles: the prospect of a hectic and hoppy evening in the district of Temple-Bar for the courageous ones who go to Dublin, unlikely. to see the XV of France win, which has not won on the lawn of its Clover counterpart for ten years, but above all the promise of a warm atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium, where up to 50,000 supporters can wear at arm's length their team.
But now, the Covid-19 and its health constraints have been there.
As everywhere in this Six Nations Tournament, there will be no one in the bays of the enclosure for the clash between the two teams this Sunday (4 p.m., France 2).
A generalized closed session in the competition from which the Blues could take advantage to win the Tournament in an odd year, where two difficult trips are on the program: Ireland, therefore, and England, on March 13, beaten at home by the 'Scotland Saturday for the first time since… 1983.
"Without supporters, the pressure is less strong"
“Without supporters, the pressure is less strong, explains the three-quarter center of the Blues Gaël Fickou.
They push behind their team and can influence the referee's choices.
Let's say that it balances the balance of power between the two teams.
"To have a normally very active public in La Rochelle, that gives you something extra that encourages you", adds hooker Pierre Bourgarit.
Opinions confirmed by statistics.
According to our calculations, carried out on the regular season matches of Top 14 between the 2016-2017 and 2019-2020 fiscal years, 25% of the matches end in an away victory when the public is present.
A figure that rises to 33% for those played at a reduced level this season, and up to 40% for matches played behind closed doors.
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“When you enter the field, there is a reality which is the combat phase and which depends on the 30 players, as well as the referee.
We have not won there for ten years, it is a major nation of rugby, underlines the coach of the French forwards, William Servat.
The public not being there, one would think that it will be more affordable, but the reality is quite different.
“The Blues knock out their opponents, beaten in Wales (21-16) for their entry into contention on Sunday.
Even silent and in a very small group, a victory in Dublin remains a nice performance.