The English like to play us, but also know how to show fair play.
This Sunday morning, the press across the Channel was full of praise for the XV of France, winner of England on Saturday (25-13).
The Grand Slam des Bleus, the first since 2010, arouses admiration well beyond French borders.
"Paris relishes a France team worthy of honoring the City of Light", writes Jonathan Liew for
The Guardian
.
"In many ways it was a victory for modern rugby itself, for bravery and entertainment, for the idea that a team can be both art and science, discipline and invention, structure and chaos. , past and future, ”continues dithyrambic the journalist who also points to British impotence in the face of the tricolor collective.
"England were barely allowed to play."
A "scintillating" Grand Slam
On the side of the
Times
, a player particularly caught the attention.
Without the slightest surprise, it is Antoine Dupont, voted best player in the world by World Rugby in 2021, and still sparkling on Saturday evening.
“As bright as the fireworks that lit up the stadium,” says journalist Stuart Barnes.
Still at the Times, Stephen Jones evokes the atmosphere of the Stade de France and its 80,000 spectators.
"The loudest French anthem I've heard," he remembers.
For the
Daily Mail
, Nik Simon talks about a "scintillating" Grand Slam and takes his hat off to a group that has revived the flame that slumbered among rugby fans.
“After years of Gallic indifference, this French team has won back hearts and minds.
They have developed a clear identity - on and off the pitch - and transformed the Stade de France into a Saturday night disco,” he wrote.
Read alsoSix Nations Tournament: the notes of the Blues after their triumph against England (25-13)
Same story for
The Sun
which says that the Blues "have made the French fall in love with rugby".
The British press does not hesitate either to skin the XV of the Rose and in particular the coach Eddie Jones who is no longer unanimous.
“Go Eddie!
Goes !
It is only a plea made with sadness, ”dares Stephen Jones.
"He stays because there is no one else," he said.
3rd in the Tournament with only 10 points, the English showed a lot of shortcomings in the game this Saturday and have little to do with the finalist formation of the World Cup in 2019 and winner of the Six Nations the following year.
