Two games, two wins. Eight days after his success against Argentina (29-20) at the opening of the autumn tour, the XV of France confirmed by winning logically against Georgia (41-15), Sunday, November 14. For its first match in the provinces since August 2019 and a victory in Nice against Scotland (32-3), the French team tried to ignite the 40,000 spectators of Matmut-Atlantique in Bordeaux.
Perhaps disoriented far from the Stade de France or disoriented by the unusual schedule, Fabien Galthié’s players have nevertheless taken time to assert their superiority. They were rough at times, hung up against the rough Georgian selection who knows French soil perfectly since ten of the fifteen holders play in France. “Qhen they play against France, it’s special for them ”, warned the captain, Antoine Dupont, before the meeting.
🇫🇷🇬🇪 𝐋𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐬 𝐬’𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚̀ 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐱! Against valiant Georgians, it’s a 2nd victory for our # XVdeFrance… https://t.co/JNal8qNZ4S
But Georgia were far too undisciplined to further disrupt the France team. On the contrary, it allowed him to free himself at the option of penalties (five in the first ten minutes) and especially yellow cards. Two taken consecutively in the first period for a voluntary forward and a knowingly collapsed maul, leading to the first penalty try in favor of the Habs (10-3, 24e). The Lelos, the nickname of the Georgian selection, therefore played half of the first period outnumbered. Too much to hope for better when we are at 12e world place.
Jalibert and Ntamack finally accomplices
The spaces opened up and France was finally effective in the opposing 22 meters, unlike its start to the match. By playing in the advance, the association Matthieu Jalibert – Romain Ntamack was much more visible than last weekend, when it was criticized. Against Argentina, we had to wait a quarter of an hour to see a pass between the two friends. On Sunday, the first found the second in the second minute for a game throw that nearly led to a try from Damian Penaud, failing to flatten after a kick for himself.
The second try of the Blues came precisely from a service from Romain Ntamack for Mathieu Jalibert (17-3, 32e). A beautiful symbol to see the opener of the Union Bordeaux-Bègles open his counter of trials in selection in his city. Its realization was also launched by another Bordeaux thanks to the Georgian touch won by Cameron Woki, which allowed Jalibert to flatten. Starting for the first time on the second row, the usual third row was once again dominant in touchdown.
He was well imitated in the air by the French Stadium player Sekou Macalou at the origin of the first, the fourth signed Peato Mauvaka (31-10, 51e), already author of an achievement against Argentina, then of the fifth try at the end of the meeting of Damian Penaud, to offer himself a double (36e, 73e). The Clermontois was elected man of the match.
“The copy is not perfect”
This fifth tricolor test then the sixth and last of Peato Mauvaka (79e) gave color to the French team, showered by the rain as well as by the Georgian second wind. “Every time the finishers come home, they bring us a lot”, greeted after the match Antoine Dupont, at the microphone of France 2. The Lelos, thanks to two tries of Lobzhanidze (48e) and Tabutsadze (64e), did indeed lead the score of the second period for a while. Before the Blues get off to a good start.
This victory is therefore not entirely reassuring, one week before the end of the autumn tour against New Zealand, Saturday, November 20. “The result is more than satisfactory even if the copy is not perfect”, summarized Dupont. “We made a lot of small mistakes, mistakes, admitted Damian Penaud. We will have to be ready no matter what. “
Beaten on Saturday in Ireland (29-20), the All Blacks will arrive in revenge at the Stade de France. For its part, the France team will have to significantly increase its intensity of play while coach Fabien Galthié could deplore some physical glitches, including the injury of Julien Marchand, affected before the break on a regrouping. “He came out of the rib cartilages. He suffers from intercostal pain. He left for exams, we will know more in the evening “, said the coach after the meeting.