Les Bleues bien plus convaincantes
Deux victoires, deux victoires dont une bonifiée. Le début de Tournoi de Six Nations de l’équipe de France, d’un point de vue comptable, était quasi parfait.
Mais contre l’Irlande lors de la première journée, et encore plus contre l’Écosse il y a deux semaines, on était restés sur notre faim devant les prestations françaises. La volonté de jouer, illustrée par un nombre impressionnant de passes après contact, se heurtait à quelques approximations dans la zone de marque.
La rencontre de ce dimanche, contre l’Italie au stade Jean-Bouin, a dû rassurer les sélectionneur Gaëlle Mignot et David Ortiz sur la capacité de leurs joueuses à corriger leurs petites failles.
Au-delà du résultat brut (38-15), qui atteste d’une victoire nette et sans bavure, l’équipe de France a su améliorer un secteur que tout le monde – staff, joueuses, suiveurs – pointait depuis ce début de Tournoi : la sacrosainte efficacité offensive.
Avec six essais en quatorze entrées dans les 22 adverses, ce n’est pas encore clinique mais c’est beaucoup mieux que les 15 entrées réussies à Edimbourg, pour deux essais.
Cette capacité à convertir les bonnes actions en points a permis aux Françaises de ne jamais douter, contre l’Italie. Il a en effet fallu à peine plus d’une minute pour que les Bleues déflorent le tableau d’affichage, sur une action marquée du sceau de la paire de centres : percée de Gabrielle Vernier, relais et conclusion de Nassira Kondé (7-0, 2e).
Le début du festival des cannes bleues, les avants montrant aux trois-quarts qu’elles aussi avaient des jambes de feu.
Illustration avec cette charge plein axe d’Assia Khalfaoui, omniprésente contre l’Italie et logiquement élue meilleure joueuse du match. La pilière du Stade Bordelais réussissait une passe après contact splendide pour sa coéquipière de la première ligne Anaëlle Deshayes qui terminait le travail en force (14-3, 23e).
D’humeur joueuse, les Françaises relançaient tous les ballons ou presque. Pauline Bourdon-Sansus jouait rapidement à la main un renvoi aux 22 ; une action que Charlotte Escudéro concluait en puissance (21-3, 33e).
Puis, histoire d’assurer le point de bonus offensif avant même de rentrer aux vestiaires, la revenante Mélissande Llorens captait un amour de coup de pied décroisé signé Lina Queyroi, que l’ailière n’avait plus qu’à déposer derrière la ligne (26-3, 38e).
Tout semblait déjà joué au moment de changer de côté, mais sous le soleil parisien et devant une belle affluence, les Bleues ont maintenu le cap. L’inévitable Assia Khalfaoui y allait de son essai au ras (33-3, 45e).
Enfin, à l’heure de jeu, Madoussou Fall clôturait le festival offensif de son équipe d’un essai en force qui assurait définitivement le 3e succès en autant de matchs de son équipe (62e, 38-10).
Pour faire la fine bouche, on pourra regretter les deux essais un peu trop facilement concédés aux Azzurre (55e, 77e). Mais on peut aussi les mettre au crédit d’Alyssa D’Incà, poison insaisissable sur son aile gauche, à la conclusion des deux actions. Et si Beatrice Rigoni est partie prenante sur le premier, le second doit tout au talent et à la vitesse de la joueuse de Villorba.
Dommage, mais les points positifs sont beaucoup plus nombreux que les points négatifs. Dominatrices en conquête, en jambes, les Françaises ont montré qu’elles demeuraient les reines de l’offload et qu’elles possèdent sans doute le meilleur jeu au pied des engagées. On a évoqué la superbe passe au pied de Lina Queyroi pour envoyer Mélissande Llorent à l’essai. On peut ajouter le 50-22 trouvé par Morgane Bourgeois (76e), le jeu de déplacement de Lina Tui, ou le 4/6 face aux perches de Queyroi.
« C’est clairement un match référence » appréciait cette dernière, au micro de France Télévisions. « On a beaucoup travaillé après le match contre l’Écosse. On sent la volonté de bien faire les choses, le groupe est solidaire. On est en train d’écrire notre histoire ».
Et pour que l’histoire soit vraiment belle, il faut maintenant aller gagner au pays de Galles pour s’offrir la finale que tout le monde attend, le 27 avril contre l’Angleterre.
Comments on RugbyPass
This has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
45 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
1 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
45 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
124 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
6 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
124 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
45 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
6 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
124 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to comments