Defence, discipline, and accuracy: France's Six Nations campaign so far in numbers
French rugby is all about flair. It’s about style – whether languid or flamboyant – and about a highly romanticised unpredictability. Whether the offload sticks or self-destructs depends entirely on which France has shown up, but what’s guaranteed is that the nation who invented the ‘champagne’ genre of the game will jouez jouez.
The play will sparkle as the panache oozes from every pore, and their match directors – fresh from a broadcast catering feast of duck à l’orange and a lovely red – make coverage decisions best described as ‘whimsical’. In the background, ‘La Marseillaise’ rings out.
The thing is – that’s just not true. Yes, the French have a tendency to produce moments of jaw-dropping ooh-là-là – but they’re just as capable of instances of ouille!-eliciting thunder or accuracy which is simplement formidable.
They’re a chef-d’œuvre boasting a variety of brushstrokes – not just the virtuosic – so, as much as we love those occasions, it’s time to burrow into the hard data available to us, and see exactly what Les Bleues have been about so far in the 2024 Six Nations – ahead of their third round clash with Italy.
The basics. Two played, and two won. A bonus point victory over the Irish in their opener – 38 – 17 – before a scrape past Scotland, 15 to 5, in Edinburgh. Italy, Wales, and England to come.
53 points scored – seven tries, six conversions, and a pair of penalty kicks – which is a tally only the Red Roses have surpassed. On the flip side, they’ve conceded three tries, two conversions, and a three-pointer – a total of 22 bettered only by, you guessed it, John Mitchell’s table-toppers.
France have finished second for the last four editions of the championship, and it’s a position they know well when it comes to the in-tournament statistics – where they’re generally nipping at English heels. The important numbers are those which deviate from that: the metrics in which they’re some way off the Packer-set pace, or where they might have the edge on their cross-Channel rivals.
In attack, they’re growing into games slowly – tending to finish with a flourish – whilst the Red Roses take a quarter to find their feet, but are then consistently inexorable.
Five of Les Bleues’ seven tries have originated from a lineout, but that doesn’t necessarily make them predictable: they’re as comfortable biding their time as they are launching strikes moves, with scores taking everything from one to double-digit phases.
It’s vital that they finish these, given how much opportunity they earn themselves: no one has as much ball as the French. Top for possession and enjoying the most territory by some margin, they want to play avec le ballon wherever possible – and they’re pretty good at doing that: enjoying the lion’s share against both Ireland and the Scots, despite topping the naughty step for ‘bad passes’, and affecting the second-fewest turnovers.
What will be a concern is conversion. They had 57% possession and two-thirds territory against Scott Bemand’s side in round one, but averaged 2.2 points per penetration of the Irish 22. Their opponents? Starved of ball and field position, but slamming 7 on the board each time they made it into France’s red zone – and not once leaving that hallowed turf empty-handed.
A week on, Scotland were much less ruthless – managing just 2.5 points per entry – but their heroic defence hammered France’s own efficiency, and they slunk off with a measly 15 points from 15 visits. For clarity: a point per foray is terrible.
Defensively, there’s plenty for Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz’s charges to hang their berets upon. Conceding three tries over two matches is no small feat, and they’ve missed the fewest tackles in the championship.
They also stepped up between rounds, which is key – it’s crucial that they build as the tournament progresses – missing fewer tackles, conceding fewer offloads, and halting carriers on the gain line more frequently.
Discipline is intrinsically linked to defence, too – given how it prevents and alleviates pressure – and Les Bleues have been squeaky clean so far. Only Ireland have conceded fewer penalties, and there’s not been a single card brandished at a Frenchwoman in 2024.
Set piece-wise? Mixed. Everyone’s struggling at the line out – the average success is 75% – so France’s 79% is towards the top of the pile, but they’ll be concerned by the way it collapsed against Scotland, when they lost five of 17 throws. At the scrum, they’re absolute teacher’s pets – with a 100% record on their own feed. They’re not exactly bullying opponents here – they’ve won just the one penalty (England have conjured up five) – but it’s a rock-solid platform for them.
What about that key battleground – the breakdown? ‘Secure but slow’ is the headline: seven rucks lost so far – as few as anyone – but a ruck speed which places them down in fourth – and light years behind England’s blistering 2.82s average. What Les Bleues have mastered is the defensive side of proceedings on the floor: no one makes life stodgier for their opponents, and they’re devious at forming and defusing mauls.
They’re 80% off the tee, which isn’t quite as pinpoint as Ireland or Wales, but is almost twice as accurate as the reigning champions. Come Bordeaux, this could be massive: England haven’t taken a single shot at goal, and have missed nine of their 16 conversion attempts – whilst France have mishit just two kicks all tournament, and knowing they can rely on this option transforms the complexion of any territorial battle.
That might be a point for the blue team, but what’s a coup for the women in white is how much more dominant they are ball-in-hand. The French lead the carry count by 272 to 242, but trail considerably when it comes to the return on those – and have grappled 200 fewer metres post-contact. 40% of England carries are dominant: less than 20% of French ones are.
The prospect of Romane Menager running at Marlie Packer is as thrilling as it is terrifying – and surely a production Marvel are working on as I write – but the evidence suggests the world number ones will rule the roost, come the meaty stuff.
Worth noting, and invaluable in the context of a relentless campaign, is that France’s performances are squad-wide efforts. The load’s shared around this youthful squad, with a variety of players bringing a variety of USPs to the table.
Madoussou Fall is their most industrious tackler, but Manaé Feleu is the one who does the best sledgehammer impression (and wins all the lineouts). Marine Manager has an eye for a line-break, whilst her twin Romane has contributed a mammoth 33 carries, with Assia Khalfaoui and Gabrielle Vernier not far behind. Emilie Boulard and Lina Queyroi have made up the metres ball-in-hand and with the boot, and – of the 14 most prolific offloaders so far – nine are French.
Ridiculously, that last statistic brings us back to where we started – this idea of France as the egg-chasing universe’s Harlem Globetrotters. They’re not – partly because there’s much more to their game than that, but mostly – having looked at these numbers – because they need to earn the right to play with such verve and elan: through dominant carries, quicker subsequent ball, a reliable line-out, and developing the attacking efficiency to build score lines which allow them to cut loose. You can’t ice a cake which has collapsed mid-bake, and good luck draping tinsel over a brittle Christmas tree.
There’s an enthralling arms race taking place – as Mitchell’s England sprinkle stardust onto their trademark grunt, and France hustle to reinforce the foundations of their offloading temple – and the finish line’s looming into view. Bordeaux beckons, where all these numbers will culminate in the only two which matter – those on the scoresheet as that final whistle sounds – and they fire up the confetti cannons…
Comments on RugbyPass
Great role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
57 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
57 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
57 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
57 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
57 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
57 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
57 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
57 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
57 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
57 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
57 Go to comments