2023-09-23 16:39:00
Antoine Dupont is used to attracting attention with his performances. There, it was more a question of accelerated medical studies, until a first response was given on Saturday morning. Since Thursday evening, the number 9 of the French XV has occupied minds and discussions, while the Blues achieved the biggest success in their history in the World Cup at the Vélodrome: 96-0 against Namibia. A demonstration which arouses reasons for satisfaction.
Penaud, solar and school
Among these reasons to smile in the tricolor clan: the full match of Damian Penaud, author of a hat-trick. Getting the quintessence of your talent undoubtedly requires framing it without restricting it. And Thursday at the Vélodrome, the winger with 33 tries for the French team – five points behind Serge Blanco’s record – was present on all counts. He respected the fundamentals of rugby, for example with a long pass which was necessary on a recovery ball or even well-negotiated “two-on-ones”. All without losing his instinct or his sense of taking intervals.
Or how to shine without risking getting burned. An elite combo to put into perspective taking into account the very porous defense he had to break through. But precisely, it is in this type of “cool” evening that Penaud can (even more) hang out. This was not the case in Marseille. “The players managed to score all these points because they tried to stay focused, to apply themselves, to play as a team (…) Damian entered into this collective dynamic,” noted Fabien Galthié.
Dupont, an avoidable blow? “Galthié couldn’t make 15 changes at the break”
Bielle-Biarrey, devourer of spaces
On the other wing, Louis Bielle-Biarrey was almost as prolific (two tries) and at least as active. The spaces hoped for by the Blues staff opened up in front of the explosive young player from UBB (20 years old). He devoured them as he had to, to show that Penaud’s partner role was not the preserve of Gabin Villière. “He gave a good response to his selection,” said his coach. We will be careful not to consider that he has relegated the Toulonnais to the rank of understudy, but the way in which he competes with him for a place in the typical team is remarkable.
Baille and Danty, successful returns
Cyril Baille and Jonathan Danty, for their part, have made good returns to competition. The Toulouse pillar, absent for five weeks due to a calf injury, played 40 minutes, marked by correct behavior in the scrum and the ease with the ball in hand that characterizes him. He was satisfied with his feelings in the mixed zone, much more concerned about the state of “(his) friend” Dupont than his own.
The No. 12 from La Rochelle, spared during the first two matches due to hamstring pain, played the entire match. He showed his usual power, scoring two tries as a bonus. His friend in the center, Gaël Fickou, greeted his World Cup debut with a small remark: “I think it’s his first double… it’s not bad, all the same (sic).”
“Let’s face the Dupont disaster: we must call Serin!”
Only four penalties conceded
Indiscipline had been one of the main factors in the unsuccessful performance of the reworked Blues, a week earlier against Uruguay (15 penalties conceded). This time, France was only penalized four times (compared to 12, on the Namibians’ side). At the press conference, we felt that there was a box to check in this sense before this part. When a colleague asked him if this number “4” represented a record, Galthié responded straight away: “tie with the Blacks”, in reference to an identical record during the opening match, won 27-13.
12/13, Ramos almost perfect
A first corner transformation missed then Thomas Ramos rolled out. The guard in the worn Le Coq jersey finished with the excellent ratio of 12/13, for 24 points. He had anticipated the high score which constituted “a good basis for work” for him: “I suspected that I was going to have a lot of transformations to kick, so I was keen to be concentrated from start to finish, to continue to be precise even with fatigue. Because in tighter matches, there will also be fatigue – added pressure, Editor’s note – and the conversions or penalties will be very important.”
Ollivon, the “big” reference marker
When “great Charles” overtakes “Charlie” Magne. Ollivon scored his fourteenth and fifteenth tries with the French XV this Thursday. He thus became the best forward in the history of the selection in this area, one unit ahead of Olivier Magne and two ahead of Imanol Harinordoquy. He provided yet another confirmation of his valuable reading of the game and his ability to exploit it with great strides. This is also an opportunity to remember that Dupont is not the only exceptional player in this French XV.
Charles Ollivon, center, scored two tries against Namibia – 09/21/2023
Credit: Imago
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