A great first at the Stade Vélodrome.
During the summit clash against Ireland (17-38) this Friday at the Stade Vélodrome, Maxime Lucu honored his 19th selection for the France team and, for the first time, he experienced defeat.
It was also the first time in his international career that he started a match as a starter in the Six Nations Tournament.
In the absence of Antoine Dupont, who has decided to skip this post-World Cup Six Nations to devote himself to the French 7s team and the next Olympic Games in Paris, the Bordeaux scrum half -Bègles put on the mahout costume from the tricolor pack.
“Maxime has been there almost since the start of the mandate.
He has always been good, even very good
,” Fabien Galthié justified himself, referring to the 31-year-old player who honored his first cap in November 2021 against Georgia.
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And to give the road map:
“It’s up to him to take charge while maintaining his serenity and what he knows how to do.”
The usual understudy (64 minutes in 8 matches during the last two Tournaments) did not tremble when challenging the Irish and his opposite number Jamison Gibson-Park, one of the best scrum halves on the world circuit .
Precious in his play at the clearing foot, despite a ball blocked behind a scrum (22nd), he strived from the outset to energize the Blues' game as soon as he could.
But his team suffered too much from the Irish attacks, little helped by the expulsion inflicted on Paul Willemse (32nd), and behind a pack that was more than jostled, he committed several small mistakes and missed two tackles in the first half.
After the cruel disillusionment of the last World Cup, which ended abruptly in the quarter-finals, Lucu did not experience any setbacks at the time of his resumption with the UBB.
On the contrary, the Gironde club, now coached by Yannick Bru, shines brightly in the Top 14 and in the Champions Cup, with ultra offensive and spectacular rugby.
An efficiency rewarded in the French team, since the Bordelais make up the vast majority of the back line, ahead of three-quarters of Stade Toulousain.
While he has long conveyed the image of a classic number 9, strong in the kicking game and without frills, Lucu has been much more focused on the offensive since his return to the club.
Read alsoSix Nations Tournament: the French XV falls from the start
No miracle
But this Friday, the Marseille evening was much duller and more complicated.
Lack of connection, bad choice, enormous Irish pressure, number 9 rocked, like the entire French ship.
The Basque tried hard but he couldn't work miracles.
On Damian Penaud's try just before half-time, he made a series of quick releases, overtaking his club partner, Matthieu Jalibert, who scored the decisive pass in the final.
Insufficient to stop the perfectly oiled green machine.
Maxime Lucu had a new status to assume.
Among the Blues, he is now one of the voices that count.
Fabien Galthié recently confided that he joined the group of leaders of the France group - made up of Grégory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon, Julien Marchand and Gaël Fickou - who participates in meetings and discussions with the staff.
The key is to know whether he will retain these prerogatives until the next World Cup, in 2027 in Australia.
Because, behind him, youth is growing and has long teeth: Nolann Le Garrec shines with Racing 92 and asserts himself as a more than serious competitor.
Fabien Galthié also warned:
“Nolann has always been very, very good in training, always convincing, even if he has not yet been capped.
We have the feeling that he is ready to take over.
I see this emulation as a positive thing.”
In the meantime, Maxime Lucu was, like the XV of France, drowned by the green tide which swept over Marseille.
He left the pitch at the Vélodrome, after the fourth try for the XV du Trèfle, in the 64th minute, giving way to his young competitor.
Mass was said and the Irish songs cooled the atmosphere even more.
Life without Dupont started in the worst possible way…