Special envoy to Rome
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Calendar and results 6 Nations
Ranking Tournament 6 of Nations
A big sigh of relief.
Antoine Dupont and his teammates feared the worst until the last second against the Italians.
Terribly undisciplined, unable to follow through on their ideas, the Blues almost lost everything from the start.
They finally won 29 to 24 thanks to a brilliant coup from Matthieu Jalibert, who took over from Romain Ntamack.
To pocket, against all odds, the offensive bonus thanks to their four tries scored.
They will have to do much better next Saturday in Ireland to hope to impose themselves there.
Blues at first rough and undisciplined
The first forty minutes of the XV of France in the 2023 Tournament will not be remembered.
Clumsy, impatient, sometimes disorganized, and terribly unruly.
Nine penalties conceded, including three by Paul Willemse alone, to allow the Italians to stay in the game.
A chance for his last because the Blues scored three tries and left as many on the way.
If Thomas Ramos (19th) then Ethan Dumortier (26th) had flattened on receipt of two passes at the foot of Romain Ntamack, if Thibaud Flament had countered a ball to slip into the in-goal from the 4th minute, a forward from Damian Penaud on receiving a pass from Ramos on a three against an unstoppable (2nd minute) and another from Charles Ollivon not controlling the ball when flattening (15th), had deprived the Blues of
a comfortable lead.
Dross which allowed the Italians to continue to believe in it, thanks to the boot of Tommaso Allan and a test of the inevitable Ange Capuozzo (his 6th in eight selections).
The back of Stade Toulousain had mystified on the Grégory Alldritt line with an electric overflow frame.
As a result, the Grand Slam champions only led 19-14 at halftime.
Then unable to straighten the bar
We hoped that the break would be life-saving, would put these clumsy Blues back on track.
It did not happen.
Charles Ollivon was quickly sanctioned with a yellow card for having collapsed a conquering Italian maul (52nd minute).
Double penalty moreover with a penalty try logically granted to the Italians.
A penalty from Tommaso Allan will even allow the Nazionale to pass in front of the score (24-22, 62nd minute).
Fabien Galthié then empties his bench.
Brings in the explosive Sekou Macalou, the sturdy Romain Taofifenua and the revengeful Matthieu Jalibert.
The first will scrape a hot ball, the second will serve the third with a magnificent pass after contact for the test of deliverance (68th, 24-29).
It will still remain to tremble on the last battering of the Transalpines.
up
to a last maul perfectly countered that one, ending the ordeal.
For a staggering statistic: 18 penalties whistled against the Blues (against only 7 to the Italians).
The terrifying shadow of Ireland
Next Saturday (3:15 p.m.), the Blues travel to Dublin to challenge the other big favorite of this Tournament, the nation in first place in the world rankings.
The Irish made a strong first impression by sweeping the Welsh 34-10 in Cardiff.
Full of confidence.
And an extra day to recover and prepare for the northern hemisphere shock.
The Blues will stay in Rome until Thursday, only to reach the Irish capital at the end of the day.