2023 Six Nations Championship: The Blues want to finish their championship in style against the Welsh
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After ransacking the temple of English rugby, the Blues return home. A week after their impressive win at Twickenham (53-10), France XV, on Saturday 18 March, wrapped up the 2023 edition of the Six Nations against Wales (3:45pm, to follow up live on Le Monde’s last spring outing before the summer preparatory matches. Most important of all, a final Test run on the Stade de France turf before the start of the home ‘World Cup’, in early September, against the formidable New Zealanders.
at the end of the Fifth round of this tournament.As the Blues’ general manager Rafael Ibanez turned out to be, the French still aspire to raise their guns. but defeating them in Ireland in the second match (19-32) f Immaculate cycle so far from the fifteenth of the clover It causes them to cling to an explosion of English pride in Dublin, hoping to retain their title. “We have a tournament to finish well and still have a hand in the cup, even if it doesn’t just depend on usThis week, Laurent Labette, the tricolor’s offensive coach, confirmed. It is a pleasure to find our audience and we want to maintain our dynamic. »
The message was sent to Antoine Dupont’s teammates as soon as they left Eurostar, the day after the crisis: Be careful not to focus too much on Ireland, a distant contender for the crown, at the risk of forgetting the Leek XV. “We must not pick the wrong opponent and beat Wales. We want to focus on our destiny, the rest is not up to us.Fabian Galthier insisted, Thursday.
The coach did not forget this time when his forces were lost in the calculations. At the end of the 2021 Six Nations Championship – where too much success would have won the tournament -, Scotland left the Stade de France triumphantwhile the Blues won the match nonetheless. “We tried to go for more than winning and ended up losing.”, summed up the third line by Gregory Alldritt. The desire to do so much… the incomplete result that France’s XV, which has since achieved the Grand Slam and beaten all the major rugby nations of the world, does not wish to explain again.
“This team has long been cited as France’s fifteenth”
Especially against Wales. Winners in Italy last weekend, captain Ken Owens’ teammates failed to impress, fending off the specter of the wooden spoon – which ‘rewards’ a team after losing all their games in the tournament. However, the Welshman was still caught up in an additional sporting concern: the professional future of Many executives remain uncertainA few weeks after the players threatened to go on strike before the match against England.
And if Warren Gatland – who was called up as a firefighter on duty on the bench in the fall of 2022 – retains the backbone of the Grand Slam winners in 2019 and 2012 under him, then the years have passed and the decline of XV Leek seems inexorable.
“The French did great in England”greeted the New Zealand technician on Thursday, confirming that he expects to see the Blues “Obviously disappointed to lose in Dublin” They approached the Sabbath meeting with a knife between their teeth.
To confront them, the Welsh coach chose to prefer experience, a week after he significantly renewed his squad in Italy. So he called up his followers, like second-line Alun Wyn Jones – 37 years and seventeen nations to his credit – or opener Dan Biggar (33). “By starting players who have been great servants of Welsh rugby, the idea is to say to them: ‘Enjoy the moment and savor it.’ For many of them, this could be their last encounter in the Championship.Warren Gatland, who is involved in refurbishing the Leek XV, has revealed, with a view to the World Cup… 2027.
Even if the Blues are favored by expectations, the tricolor can expect to see the Dragons arrive in Paris liberated and free from any pressure. “We must not forget that the Welsh won the championship two years ago, and were in a position to reach the Grand Slam, but we took them away in injury time. It’s not that far, two years.”Fabian Galthé recalls, as he admits to owning it “I have always admired this team who have been martyring the French XV for a very long time.”
After this last week of gathering before returning to their clubs in the top 14 and the European Cups, the French intend “keep your feet on the ground”Gregory Aldrete said on Wednesday. Instead of focusing on widening the gap – with the aim of winning the championship -, “The aim is to build on our victory like last weekend, to get back the same strength, to play like we did at Twickenham.”, extended the third line of La Rochelle. Before you wait, together in the Stade de France dressing room, there is probably white smoke from Ireland.
France’s 15th wins the 2023 Six Nations if…
- wins the offensive bonus point – at least four tries scored – and if Ireland loses at home to England (starting at 6pm in Paris), but without the defensive bonus – by a difference of less than or equal to seven points.
- The offense bonus wins and Ireland loses with the defensive bonus, but the Blues get a better points differential. Before the last day, the 15th of the clover is at +66; Blues at +46.
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