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Falatea and Cros, “finishers” well before their time
After a quarter of an hour, this France-Scotland took a totally unusual turn with the expulsions of Grant Gilchrist from Mohamed Haouas.
Rugby to XIV, original.
After the red card from Haouas, Falatea entered the lawn of the Stade de France from the 11th minute, numerically taking the place of Alldritt.
Previously, Anthony Jelonch, seriously hit in the head by Gilchrist, had given way temporarily (between the 7th and 14th minute) to François Cros.
Before the latter definitely returned to the field in the 25th minute, when his teammate injured his knee
(see below).
An unprecedented situation for substitutes.
“I had never known that”
, confided afterwards the Toulousain.
However, the two players quickly found their marks, rising to the occasion.
Not impressed with these changes early in the game.
Usually, Fabien Galthié speaks of "
finishers
".
There, Falatea and Cros were almost in the shoes of holders.
And they both faced the Scots.
Finn Russell, this permanent poison
So certainly, one of his passes (a double jump not necessarily necessary) was intercepted by Thomas Ramos, who did not ask so much to spin on the test.
Pure Finn Russell.
But the performance of the Scottish opener cannot be reduced to this blunder, as he has been a constant poison for the Blues.
Distributing, on foot or by hand, the game of his people, who constantly put the French under pressure.
The Racing 92 player, often inconstant with the XV du Chardon, achieved great performances in the Tournament this year.
The opening half – who is constantly labeled “
whimsical
” – is the true master of his team, capable in particular of finding a splendid 50/22 without shaking.
“He is capable of anything, he is capable of dropping balls behind the defense like he did on foot, he is capable of making laser passes.
He has everything in his game”
, noted the tricolor rear Thomas Ramos, regularly put under pressure.
Scotland conceded their first loss in this Six Nations, but can still (like France) aim for the final victory.
Thanks to the flashes and the assurance of its opener.
Kilts and bagpipes in Saint-Denis
It's always a pleasure to welcome our Scottish friends to the Stade de France.
A historic friendship floats in the air.
Still vivid hints of The Auld Alliance, signed in 1296 between the kingdom of Scotland and that of France.
“
The oldest alliance in the world
“, underlined General de Gaulle during the Second World War.
On the forecourt, French supporters greeted their kilted counterparts with pleasure, stopping to photograph the bagpipe players.
As always, at hymn time, the Flower of Scotland delighted the crowd.
Who was entitled to a double dose.
At half-time, the sixteen musicians - aged 14 to 81… - from the Jedburgh Royal British Legion played majestic bagpipe tunes in the Dionysian enclosure.
Led by Major Tosh MacDonald, this Pipe Band, formed in 1943, thus celebrated its 80th anniversary in the most beautiful way.
CLAW STRIKES
Jelonch, the big tile before the World Cup
This is the bad news of the day on Sunday.
Anthony Jelonch had to leave the Stade de France at halftime of the match against Scotland to undergo an MRI.
And Fabien Galthié himself announced the verdict:
"rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament"
of the left knee.
And the coach to continue:
"You know the protocol: it's almost six months of absence, between the operation and rehabilitation..."
The blow is hard, since the Toulouse flanker's season is over and he will try to embark on a race against time to be present at the World Cup, which begins on September 8.
Will it be delivered in time?
Won't he lack competition?
For the Blues, it's a huge loss as the Gersois, a true warrior on the pitch, had asserted himself as an essential element in the last matches, taking advantage of the absence of François Cros to settle permanently in the XV of departure.
The only glimmer of hope: the center of the Blues, Jonathan Danty, who had been hit in the knee (posterior ligament, not anterior like Jelonch), found the ground more quickly than expected.
We wish Anthony Jelonch such a recovery.
Haouas in history
They are only sixteen Blues to have received a red card.
The first was the pillar Jean-Pierre Garuet, in 1984 during a victory against Ireland (he was suspended for three months).
Others ?
Alain Lorieux, Alain Carminati, Abdel Benazzi, Philippe Gallart, Grégoire Lascubé, Vincent Mosacto (during the same match the last two mentioned…), Philippe Sella, Jean-Jacques Crenca, Yoann Maestri, Rabah Slimani, Benjamin Fall, Sébastien Vahaamahina, Mohamed Haouas, Paul Willemse and Antoine Dupont.
Sunday, Mohamed Haouas therefore entered the history of the XV of France through the back door.
He has indeed become the first French player to be expelled twice.
Twice against Scotland.
The first in 2020 at Murrayfield for a punch delivered to Jamie Ritchie.
The second, Sunday for a whim, more clumsy than mean,
on scrum-half Ben White.
Does this mean the end of his international career?
Fabien Galthié assured that no, rather wishing to "encourage and help" his pillar.
But will the Montpellier - and future Clermontois - be able to evolve serenely again or will his disciplinary record result in him being targeted by the opponents, seeking to have him unpinned, and particularly watched by the referees?
To ask the question is to answer it… Not sure that the unexpected leniency of Fabien Galthié - Brice Dulin who has been placarded for two years and a risky raise which cost the victory against Scotland can have it bad - does not resist this principle of reality.
rather wishing to "encourage and aid" his mainstay.
But will the Montpellier - and future Clermontois - be able to evolve serenely again or will his disciplinary record result in him being targeted by the opponents, seeking to have him unpinned, and particularly watched by the referees?
To ask the question is to answer it… Not sure that the unexpected leniency of Fabien Galthié - Brice Dulin who has been placarded for two years and a risky raise which cost the victory against Scotland can have it bad - does not resist this principle of reality.
rather wishing to "encourage and aid" his mainstay.
But will the Montpellier - and future Clermontois - be able to evolve serenely again or will his disciplinary record result in him being targeted by the opponents, seeking to have him unpinned, and particularly watched by the referees?
To ask the question is to answer it… Not sure that the unexpected leniency of Fabien Galthié - Brice Dulin who has been placarded for two years and a risky raise which cost the victory against Scotland can have it bad - does not resist this principle of reality.
and particularly watched by the referees?
To ask the question is to answer it… Not sure that the unexpected leniency of Fabien Galthié - Brice Dulin who has been placarded for two years and a risky raise which cost the victory against Scotland can have it bad - does not resist this principle of reality.
and particularly watched by the referees?
To ask the question is to answer it… Not sure that the unexpected leniency of Fabien Galthié - Brice Dulin who has been placarded for two years and a risky raise which cost the victory against Scotland can have it bad - does not resist this principle of reality.
Dumortier, a winger shouldn't do that
We play the 55th minute of a complicated match for the Blues, dominated on all sides by the Scots since the red card of Haouas.
On one of the rare tricolor passages in the opposing 22 meters, the three-quarters finally manage to keep the ball and, after several playing times, Romain Ntamack serves Ethan Dumortier on his wing.
There remains one meter to go, the test is assured.
“
He has to dive.
Except it doesn't dive
“, will wince Fabien Galthié after the match.
The Lou winger indeed prefers to attempt a superfluous inside hook.
Caught by two defenders, he returned when he fell into the in-goal.
On the back, ball on the stomach.
So no try.
An error all the more guilty as the Blues, who then lead 22 to 14, are in danger.
They will remain so until the last minute, Dumortier not having completed the Scottish hopes.