It comes at a funny time, this finale.
A little too early or much too late.
France - Ireland… The two best teams in the world, it was said.
These blue geniuses having the answer to everything, these green devils set like clocks.
We awaited their duel as an epilogue to the World Cup, in a sort of feverish apotheosis, as much sporting as popular: the almost irrational blue-white-red craze magnified by the beauty and strength of the songs of these emerald hearts.
The fireworks were never set off.
The first ones especially raised questions.
The seconds lacked a spark.
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So here they are, three and a half months after their premature elimination in the quarter-finals of the World Cup (the Tricolores beaten 28-29 by the Springboks and the Irish 24-28 by the All Blacks), opposed at the opening of the Six Tournament Nations.
A party, without a doubt.
The big crowd will be there this Friday evening in Marseille.
“We could have filled the Vélodrome three times, which has 67,000 seats,” underlined coach Fabien Galthié, taking ownership of this success.
The jubilation is brewing, cauldron version, in line with the last outings of the Blues.
This time, however, no matter how much we shout, there will still be a little bitter taste in the back of the mouth, like a hint of autumn.
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