England-France: regrets, but still a Tournament to win

We didn't really doubt it, but we have absolute certainty today.

We can launch all the debates on a failing health bubble, spend days wondering about the veracity of a federal report and see the match start just before a curfew - or confinement for the less well off - imposed on its supporters, the Crunch sweeps everything away to leave us frantic in front of our television once the first tackle has been inflicted.

And this Sunday, French rugby will wake up with this little taste of bitter defeat as the XV de la Rose too often likes to coat its toast, these with the supplement "possible Grand Slam soared".

Let's write it down to get rid of it: the Blues have lost again at Twickenham (23-20), a lawn where they are no longer imposed in the Six Nations Tournament since 2005. An eternity - yes, at least - which we have yet believed to see the end on Saturday afternoon.

An early try from Antoine Dupont (2nd), a strong English moment digested and spat out in the wake of a superb collective movement to send Damian Penaud to score as on the parade (32nd) and an end of the first period where the French marched on the XV de la Rose, without managing to add more salt to the bill.

READ ALSO>

Six Nations Tournament: the notes of the defeat of the XV of France in England

“We were a little intoxicated, We left energy, and points, regrets coach Fabien Galthié.

We could have finished this match more comfortably.

"With only four points ahead of 25 minutes from the end, France has embarked on an arm wrestling with its host, whose impact of substitutes has gradually made the difference, where the staff of the Blues has left three cartridges - Jelonch, Serin and Ntamack - on the bench.

Until this test in strength of Maro Itoje (77th), validated by the video and which returned the hopes of success in the London suburbs to 2023.

“We invested a lot.

There is a little disappointment, we go to three points, blows the French captain, Charles Ollivon.

There are several small errors, we lose lucidity at the end of the match.

You have to be more enduring in your head.

"" The team delivered a great match, and we have to digest this outcome, says Fabien Galthié.

We can be proud of the players, it's a meeting that makes you grow.

"

"We are always in the game"

Frustrating or encouraging this defeat?

Probably a bit of both.

The XV of France deployed, at times, an ultra-attractive rugby and could still count on the slaughter of players like Romain Taofifenua or Julien Marchand and on the talent of Matthieu Jalibert, impressive at the opening.

Beside that, we will always wonder what would have given this match without this month of stoppage and the Blues will not always fall on the English who have just taken forty points against the Welsh.

But who have therefore taken pleasure in depriving their rivals of a potential Grand Slam, coveted since 2010.

“I had not spoken about it before the competition, loose Charles Ollivon, launched on this soaring prospect.

There, we will all move forward now.

We are still in the game to win the Tournament.

We will have to get as many points as possible in the last two games.

“On the program: Wales, the last selection to be able to make a clear round, Saturday at Stade France, then Scotland, in the same place probably on March 26.

Given the recent past of the XV of France, we will not start to be choosy about a coronation in the Tournament, even without a Grand Slam.

Even if it means letting the English take advantage of this invincibility which weighs on tricolor rugby.