the essentials Will the few changes in the French XV be enough to make it undergo its post-World Cup transformation and place it positively in the near and distant future? Elements of response this Sunday March 10, after the meeting in Cardiff (4 p.m., 4th day).
Since, until then, the only French success was away, in Scotland, through a “video test” refused to the Scots, the French supporter will allow himself to dream of a second success for the French outside of their bases. With this paradox in sight: playing for second place in the Tournament in a week thanks to a victory against England.
It would then be rather well paid considering the lesson learned against Ireland, the half-success in Scotland and the half-defeat against Italy, in Lille.
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But much more than two successes against the Welsh and English which would allow Fabien Galthié to get closer to his winning percentage, it is more of a sign that we are waiting for. A sign for the future. To claim to win the next Tournament where you will have to travel to Ireland and England. And a sign for the more distant deadline constituted by the World Cup in 2027 in Australia.
It’s a long way off, you might say, but it’s with this perspective that we want to read the changes made in the XV of France. Because the coach must find the men of tomorrow today. Even if Fabien Galthié’s initial wish was to keep his group at 80%. To enter the Millennium pitch, the latter has made the most changes to his team since taking control of the XV of France.
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Coincidence of cycles, certain changes are today dictated by circumstances with the suspension of Danty and the injury of Jalibert. The latter even got the better of Lucu, already in the hot seat; Galthié then had less difficulty separating the Bordeaux hinge.
The Ramos solution at the opening has already proven itself at the opening and Depoortère has earned his stripes thanks to an already successful season at the center of the UBB attack. Rod ? To have ? The rest is a Flament – Meafou team in the minds of the staff before the Tournament even if we have some doubts about the “fund” of the two Toulouse residents who have just resumed. Without forgetting the return of the indispensable Alldritt.
So yes, men but for what game? Here too, Fabien Galthié will not be able to avoid a mini-revolution. That of the game. In decline since the start of the event. The first period against Italy could have masked this aspect if a glaring lack of accuracy had not left Italy in the race and France in doubt.
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In the end, there is always frustration. Content, always content. Fabien Galthié pleads the bad times: “We will soon be better. We are going through a difficult period. It’s hard. We are not satisfied. We must not believe that with 80% victories, everything was easy. There had some tough times, but it was tough. We’re in a cycle where we’re not at our level. We’re in a period of resilience.”
With new players, will it be time for a breath of fresh air in Cardiff? While waiting for the answer, Fabien Galthié can still rely on old statistics. The coach has always beaten Wales in the Tournament, even if in Cardiff, it was always fair (27-23 in 2020 and 13-9 in 2022).
The trend: Wales 45% – France 55%
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