You have to listen to Antoine Dupont. “At the international level you have to be able to win in every way”said the captain of the French XV, on Saturday, November 16. Understand: even without monopolizing the ball or offering chiseled flights; preparing to defend himself and exploiting the smallest plot that was offered to him. “On the occasion”the Toulouse scrum-half continued.
At the end of a high-intensity rugby match that was indecisive until the last second, the French defeated the All Blacks (30-29). One point, the difference, is all, but it is already a lot for the Blues in this almost epilogue of an eventful season. Whatever the bottle, the drunkenness, the sold-out Stade de France had them in abundance.
Faced with the New Zealanders who arrived in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis) with luggage full of certainties after a tour that had seen them successively win in England and then in Irish lands, the French knew that they were in danger. And the teammates of a powerful Ardie Savea endured the clash from the beginning, being aggressive and quick to take advantage of the slightest French errors. In the first half, two of them were enough for the Blues to concede two tries (by Peter Lakai and Cam Roigard).
We expected a scare, but there was one. And then many others. The organizations shook throughout a match where the intensity was high. “It was a very tough game” confirms center back Gaël Fickou, again in the starting XV for this match. “Against blacks the level is very high, it all comes down to the details.” adds Thibaud Flament, Toulouse second row. And sometimes by chance of fate, like the departure of the pillar Tevita Tatafu after ten minutes, victim of a crutch. The match caused damage, with Romain Taofifenua and Paul Boudehent also having to hastily leave the match due to suspected concussion protocols. “The team is united and the spirit they showed in difficult times is very strong.” welcomed Fabien Galthié.
The blues were revitalized after the break
Mistreated by the enterprising New Zealanders and monopolizing the ball in the first half, the French relied on the boot of Thomas Ramos (and neophyte defender Romain Buros’s first international try) to stay in touch. Then they heard Antoine Dupont. “Antoine, like every good captain, was the one who spoke at half-timedescribes Mickaël Guillard, Lyon’s third line. He said that we were not far away, that we should not bow our heads and that he was going to start again and enter our camp. » “We told ourselves that we had to believe it, that they were going to fart”Thibaud Flament agrees.
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