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Penaud and Mauvaka see double
Everything was not perfect for the XV of France against Georgia. Far from there. However, two players managed to showcase themselves on the lawn of Matmut Atlantique. Damian Penaud, first of all, shone with his sharp strokes and his ball catches. The Clermont winger managed to register two tries, which came to concretize his great activity. On the other wing, Matthis Lebel had to settle for crumbs and could not get out of the Georgian grip. The other Habs who saw double in Bordeaux is Peato Mauvaka. Entered following the injury of Julien Marchand, from the 39th minute of play, the other hooker from Stade Toulousain also got his double. All in strength. Already against the Argentines,he had signed a decisive entry also scoring a try. Strong.
Valiant Georgians
Certainly the score is heavy (41-15). But the Georgians can leave Bordeaux with their heads held high. They were able to compete physically with the French, preventing them from putting their game down. And, for the first time in their history, they managed to register more than 10 points for a nation of “
Tier 1
”, the best teams in the world. Used to playing in the Six Nations B Tournament, Georgia was able to measure the room for improvement that it still has to fill if it wants, one day, to integrate the great Six Nations. Fabien Galthié paid tribute to their performance, which was also appreciated by the President of Georgia, Salomé Zourabichvili, present in the stands of Matmut Atlantique.
The fervent Gironde public
For the first time since the taking office of the new staff of the Blues, the XV of France had relocated a meeting in the provinces.
And the Gironde public responded, since the stadium was almost full for the arrival of the Lelos.
An audience that obviously gave voice and encouraged the Blues.
Only a bronca sounded when the Georgians scored a try.
Lack of fair play?
Not at all, the announcer had only just announced: “
Try for Argentina!
»It's a bit messy ...
Scratches
XV of France is looking for a common thread
Two matches of the Blues and the same observation: the XV of France is looking for a common thread. After the sluggish success against the Pumas, the large victory against the Lelos was sorely lacking in control. In the end, Antoine Dupont and his teammates scored six tries but we especially remember this lack of control, this inability to control events. At a press conference, the players and the coach had to minimize this unpleasant impression. Except that it will be necessary to show a completely different face, next Saturday, vis-a-vis New Zealand, an adversary of a completely different caliber. Since the start of the tour, everyone has had this game in mind. And the first two outings of the French did not reassure anyone.
The tile for Marchand
The image is brutal. 39th minute of play: the tricolor scrum gets out of line, Julien Marchand, in the middle of the storm is recovering and the Georgian left pillar Gigashvili thrusts his head into the ribs. The number 2 of the Blues screams immediately and must give way. “
He came out of the rib cartilages. He suffers from intercostal pain. He left for exams, we will know more in the evening. But he came out because we didn't want to take any risks,
”explained Fabien Galthié. His absence would be highly detrimental against the All Blacks. Even if his lining Peato Mauvaka, entered before half-time, has come to light. But does he have the makings of a holder? The question will agitate the week.
A very brittle Galthié
Obviously, the performance of his team against modest Georgia should not have thrown him. But Fabien Galthié did not want to say it clearly. We have to be positive, after two sluggish outings and before rubbing shoulders with New Zealand, which is the best in the world. So, during his post-match press conference alongside Antoine Dupont, the Blues coach was brittle, haughty, distant. Several times, he just answered: "
yes, excellent question
" or "
I agree with what Antoine has just said.
".
Nothing more.
Kicking in touch, smugly, to the legitimate questions put to him.
At the end of the press conference, the radios even picked up a sound where he joked in a low voice with his captain.
While the last questions are slow to arrive, he pretends to address the press officer very gently: "
Let go, let go, if there are no more (questions), so much the better ... There you go. , we exhausted them.
Speaking of journalists, of course.
