This French XV recovering from the World Cup definitely has several faces.
This epic Crunch alone this Saturday March 16 in Lyon, snatched in the last minute against the English on a 50 m penalty from Thomas Ramos (33-31), illustrates this ambivalence observed throughout this Six Nations Tournament, finally finished still in 2nd place – the minimum price under the Galthié era (one Grand Slam, four 2nd places).
The balance sheet is there, regular, but depending on the matches, or even from one action to another, we do not always know which XV of France we are dealing with.
Example Saturday in Lyon, then.
The same team, different faces.
First of all, the smiling face of daring youth.
That of Léo Barré, 21, who gallops proudly, head held high and chest straight, to offer another baby blue of the same age, Nolann Le Garrec, a magnificent collective attempt.
But also the worrying face of a feverish team, capable of being holed three times in 7 minutes to concede a 21-0.
“We still have scars,” warned Patrick Arlettaz before the match, coach of the Blues attack, which was initially sterile (5 tries in 3 matches), before returning to its standards (8 in two matches).
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