XV of France: should we preserve Super Dupont?

He lived through this entire Crunch with twists and turns.

From the second minute, when he was again perfectly placed to go register the first try of the Blues.

At the last moments, where he spoils the ultimate ammunition of the XV of France by a forward.

Until the end, the staff left Antoine Dupont on the Twickenham lawn, hoping for a flash from one who is one (or even the?) Of the best players in the world at the moment.

A continuous presence which seems to have served as a rule since Fabien Galthié took the head of the French selection.

A month ago, the scrum half of Stade Toulouse had already played the entire match in Ireland.

In this Tournament, the staff only let him go out once, in Italy, while the Blues led largely on the lawn of the Stadio Olimpico.

READ ALSO>

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

The staff bias?

Leave his master to play, who remained a month without a match after catching the Covid-19, as long as France is neck and neck with the opponent, so as not to destabilize the team.

Sometimes left to be stubborn, as in Scotland a year ago where "Toto" Dupont had suffered the impacts and was out only two minutes from the end of the match.

"The hinge is always a position where it is difficult to coach when the game is tight," says the ex-international scrum-half and former Stade Français full-back coach Christophe Laussucq.

You are always a little hesitant to throw a scrum half or an opener, because he can get cold in a complicated situation, with a rhythm of the match that is already set.

I understand the option of the supervision of the XV of France.

“In Twickenham, as in Dublin, Jalibert and Dupont played the entire meeting.

Baptiste Serin, frustrated, biding his time

But then, what about the famous "finishers", that Fabien Galthié and the French staff keep honoring?

Here, the competitor who remains on the bench moping is called Baptiste Serin, scrum half from Toulon.

“He could have been useful at the end of the match,” notes the former Blues opener Yann Delaigue.

Antoine

(Editor's note: Dupont)

was perhaps a little tired: he was countered several times and made his little forward at the end.

"

“It's the meaning of modern rugby to take advantage of your sidelines to coach.

Serin could indeed have been a solution chosen by the staff, notes the former coach of the XV of France, Pierre Villepreux.

Now, this change must follow a logic.

I am not sure that the Blues lose this match because of Antoine Dupont, but rather because the English take the ascendancy.

"

Holder and captain against Italy during the Autumn Nations Cup, Baptiste Serin weighs in the daily life of the Blues, where the staff appreciates his influence with young people.

He begins to get annoyed with his role as an understudy.

"I'm not hiding it, I'm disappointed to be back so soon," he explained in June, after a first part of the Tournament truncated by the coronavirus where he had only played for 20 minutes.

Morning essentials newsletter

A tour of the news to start the day

Subscribe to the newsletterAll newsletters

So, should he expect more playing time against Wales on Saturday?

Again, nothing certain.

On Saturday, Fabien Galthié indicated that he and his staff had "coached in relation to the match".

Understand that he did not see one of his strengths coming out with the simple aim of adding new blood and varying the French game a little.

"If Serin misses himself, one would wonder why we bother to bring out the best player in the world", breathes Delaigue.

A logic to which the boss of the Blues seems to adhere.