Friable and conceding two tries, the French Blacks (27-13) last week.
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It took a big mistake from the modest Uruguayan “Teros”, 17th in the world rankings, for the Blues, approximate and undisciplined, to give themselves some breathing room with a second try (20-12, 55th), scored by the incoming Peato Mauvaka, after the first from number 10 Antoine Hastoy (10-5, 11th). The late try from winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey (27-12, 73rd), who became the youngest French player to play in a World Cup, finished killing the suspense at the same time as inflating the score.
But would the French have scored a second success in their group A if in his 22 meters, the Uruguayan fly-half Felipe Etcheverry had not sent the ball bouncing off a teammate, allowing the French hooker to flatten? Previously, Fabien Galthié’s usual finishers and complementary players were tossed around, several times having to be saved by refereeing decisions. As against the New Zealanders, the Blues conceded an early try (6th).
And the match could have frankly gone badly if the yellow card received by the second row Romain Taofifenua (27th) had turned red for his high tackle on the Teros scrum half and Castres player, Santiago Arata. Or if the second Uruguayan try had not been canceled for obstructing an opponent without the ball (34th).
A match without the executives at rest
Without Antoine Dupont, resting like the main executives (Matthieu Jalibert, Gaël Fickou Grégory Alldritt), the replacements did not shine. And for his return from injury, six months after his rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee, the third row Anthony Jelonch signed 50 discreet minutes (3 tackles) for the standards of this basic man of the Grand Slam 2022. As for the second line Bastien Chalureau, with the controversial selection after his conviction at first instance for racist violence, he entered in the 50th minute in place of Taofifenua.
The Blues, diminished by several injuries to senior players in recent weeks, display less depth than hoped. But there is still a month until the explosive quarter-final which looms in mid-October, undoubtedly against Ireland, the world’s leading nation, or South Africa, crowned four years ago.
Until then, their next match against Namibia in a week in Marseille, or the following on October 6 against Italy in Lyon, will be an opportunity to see center Jonathan Danty, hooker Julien Marchand and left prop again Cyril Baille, muscular injuries. Because qualification for the final phase is in very little doubt for Antoine Dupont’s squad, resting on Thursday: they just need to rank among the first two in their group.
(With AFP)