The end of the tunnel is near.
At the end of a new marathon season, the XV of France will play the last match of its 2021-2022 season on Saturday.
A last test-match, in Tokyo, against the Japanese beaten in two stages last week.
A hooked first act (13-13 at the break) then a demonstration of offensive efficiency by Charles Ollivon and his teammates (42-23 in the end).
“It's a test match, so we're super focused, super motivated.
We really want to finish the tour in the best possible way,
insists second-row Thibaud Flament.
The motivation is there, it is strong: Japan is a very good team, which put us in quite a bit of difficulty last weekend.
Should we expect a change of direction from the Japanese, who had tried to offer some play last week but broke their teeth on the tricolor defense?
Fabien Galthié wants to believe in a change of tactics from his opponents: "
We expect there to be more balance in their game. Even if they surprised us with their style last week, their DNA remains still carry the ball a lot in front of the defense.
“And to add:”
No doubt they will offer more dispossession, which is more like European rugby.
»
Read alsoFive things to know about the young back of the XV of France, Max Spring
During this Asian tour, the tricolor staff – who decided to renew 14 of the 15 holders of the first test – managed to quickly find their marks, without their usual executives.
Some usual linings have managed to pull out of the game, to show that they can be operational when called upon.
And the little novelty of this match will be the great international debut of Max Spring, the young rear of Racing 92, author of a remarkable season despite the strong competition which reigns in the Hauts-de-Seine.
"His performances push us to give him a chance"
, greets Fabien Galthié.
Sixteen players will not have played
Like last year in Australia (where Melvyn Jaminet had acted as a revelation), the tour at the other end of the globe will have made it possible to expand the number of contenders for the 2023 World Cup in France.
“
I can tell you that, in the team here, there are players who will join the France group
”, underlined the tricolor coach.
Even if 16 of the 41 players taken for the occasion will not have played.
“One can imagine a form of legitimate disappointment, even a certain frustration. We just want it to be temporary. This is the message we sent to them: they wasted no time in progressing
, ”said manager Raphaël lIbanez.
Adding: “
This week is our last in Japan, it is our last week of rugby of the season but we also consider it our last before the first meeting of the autumn muster.
»
Finish the season undefeated?
A first
Before returning to France, the Blues can take care of their numbers.
First finish their summer trip undefeated, which would be a first since 2006 and a trip to Romania (62-14) then to South Africa (36-26).
Then, these Blues could enter the history of French rugby by equaling the record of ten victories established ... between 1931 and 1937. And, at the time, France had faced Germany eight times.
This time, the symbolism would be much stronger.
"
It's a journalist thing
," smiles Thibaud Flament.
Finally, France could end the international season undefeated, which would be a great first.
It will then be time to meet again, in November, these same Japanese in Toulouse at the end of the autumn tour.
But before that, it will be necessary to scrap with two big fish from the South: Australia at the Stade de France then South Africa, world champion, in Marseille.
The real test of the year 2022.