Find the vertices.
At last.
And mark the spirits.
For real.
This new generation XV of France, coaxed by Fabien Galthié, can enter this Saturday (9 p.m.) the pantheon of French rugby by achieving the tenth Grand Slam in its history, twelve years after the last.
To confirm its revival, its return to the fore after a destitute decade.
The Blues have increased in power during this Tournament, but the hardest part begins for them, transforming the test, after having finished second in the last two editions.
This Grand Slam was the objective posted this year on the walls of Marcoussis.
“To be honest and transparent, we wanted to be in this position at the moment, we are there,
does not hide the coach of the Blues, Fabien Galthié.
You have to be humble, stay in your place, because there is still a game to play.
But we have done everything to be in this position.
To discover
Ranking Tournament 6 of Nations
Calendar and results 6 Nations
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Grand Slam: the great golden book of the XV of France
To win against England, the hereditary enemy, in a Stade de France in fusion and overcrowded, all of rugby France is waiting for that.
The superb November victory against the All Blacks (40-25) had lit a first inferno.
A huge bonfire is expected this Saturday.
“It's true that there was a period when the stadium was less full, with less atmosphere,
remembers Gaël Fickou, who experienced the dark years.
There weren't a lot of wins, so we didn't feel too much support, much criticism.
There, they are beautiful days, but we must remain humble.
If we fall this weekend, it will be a lot less fun..."
Sign of the new ambitions of the Blues, they are no longer hiding.
“We don't make complexes, we know where we want to go,
hammers opener Romain Ntamack.
We avoided talking about Grand Slam at the start of the Tournament to move forward serenely.
Now we can think about it, dream about it, since we are only one victory away from the goal
.
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Scoring before the World Cup
But now a XV de la Rose is looming which could - by bringing down the band to Antoine Dupont - somehow save his Tournament after two defeats (Scotland, Ireland).
And avoid another infamous fifth place in the standings.
Distrust is therefore in order.
Firstly because the Blues remain on two defeats against the subjects of Her Majesty: with a largely reorganized team in the final of the short-lived Autumn Cup of Nations (22-19) and at Twickenham, during the last Tournament (23 -20).
Eternal arsonist and under pressure since the 2019 World Cup, Eddie Jones, Rose coach, did not hesitate to let go:
“We will have a good victory against France.
We've beaten them in our last two games, so we have a pretty good idea of how to play against them."
Just that.
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Six nations: jackpot for the FFR and the Blues in the event of a Grand Slam
The kind of little spades you can put on the doors of a locker room to galvanize yourself.
Fabien Galthié confirms:
“We hear.
We are very attentive to what our opponents say.
We take care to understand, it contributes to our preparation work.
But the date is Saturday night.
And we will be ready to respond.”
This XV of France intends to put an end to twelve years of scarcity.
With crusher pack, brazen tusk and lethal arrows behind.
The current staff has managed to put things in order, impose its paw and transform these Blues.
“Competitions are won a lot between competitions. Everything we did between November and December with the clubs, managers and players allowed us to be in this position today, ”
welcomes Fabien Galthié.
Long in conflict, the Federation and the League have finally buried the hatchet for the good of the France team, the showcase of hexagonal rugby.
Now third in the world rankings - and second on Monday in the event of a Grand Slam, their best ranking since the fall of 2007 - the Tricolores must mark the coup before the 2023 World Cup in France.
To imitate their glorious elders.
In 2010, a year before reaching the World Cup final, the XV of France made its last Grand Slam.
A must.