The players of the XV of France and the XV of Clover wanted to turn the page on a disappointing World Cup, ended for both by a cruel defeat in the quarter-finals.
And, as the big France-Ireland clash approaches at the opening of the Six Nations Tournament this Friday evening in Marseille, their supporters too.
Massed around a packed Vélodrome (67,000 seats sold in a few minutes), the fans of the two great unfortunates of the last World Cup, whom they had approached as favorites, came to enjoy this match with a taste of revenge.
Not against their opponents of the day, but against the fate which deprived them of their title dream.
“We came to see the final that was stolen from us,” says John, a Catalan who came from Paris with his partner Léa and his family from Perpignan, Cathy and Etienne, summarizing the feeling shared by many supporters.
“And especially at the Vélodrome, it’s closer to home, that’s a change!
», he adds.
Irish supporters in Marseille.
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“The Six Nations is less a lottery than the World Cup, it’s a big tournament between the best teams in the world,” relishes Colin, an Irish fan who came from Dublin for the occasion.
I think our two countries experienced the same frustration at the World Cup.
It brings us closer.
May the best win !
In any case in the Tournament, the important thing is that England loses!
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It's roomy and the atmosphere is rather relaxed around the Vélodrome.
However, we are far from the green wave which swept over the various stadiums in France during the World Cup.
“We haven’t heard them sing too much,” says Christelle, a rugby instructor from Gap (Hautes-Alpes).
Some 5,000 Irish fans are still officially at the Vélodrome.
A little more undoubtedly, if we count the Irish diaspora who never fail to come together for the big matches of their beloved and unifying team, winner of the Grand Slam last year.
“It was my Christmas present!”
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Like Anselme and Matthieu, two Franco-Irish brothers who live in Paris.
“I am for Ireland, and Matthieu for France, because he uses the language better.
He knows how to conjugate past participles, laughs Anselme, French mother and Irish father.
We've had this rivalry between us since the World Cup quarter-final won by the French XV in the World Cup in 2003. When we were little, we played matches in the garden.
It got us into some good fights!
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Like the two brothers with beers in hand, the public fraternized before the match.
So happy to enjoy this match which promises so much.
“It was my Christmas present!” enthuses Kristen, 22 years old, green jersey on her back, coming as a couple with Paddy, 21 years old, from the Midlands region in Ireland.
It's the first time we've come to France, it's great, we visited the city.
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It was also a first at the Vélodrome for young Antoine, 15 years old.
“We like the youth of this team, this speed, the enthusiasm,” explains the young rugby player with blue-white-red glasses.
“The XV of France is creativity, inventiveness,” says Cathy.
“And the atmosphere is good, nice… It’s not football,” adds Etienne, at his side, who predicts a 27-10 victory for the Blues.
“It will be tighter,” John warns.
But whatever the score, fans of both the Blues and Ireland are first and foremost delighted to reconnect with this more than century-old Tournament so typical of rugby.
“And stop talking to us about the World Cup,” Lisa and Christelle say in unison.
Under the beautiful fireworks of the Vélodrome, the Six Nations can begin after magnificent anthems sung a cappella.
And that too changes us...