For those who only follow rugby through the prism of the XV of France, the presentation of the qualities of Joris Segonds for its international beginnings was not very long. A first long touch found in the second minute of play and a penalty at more than 50 meters in the axis perfectly drawn to open the scoring some time for play later (3-0, 7th).
“A real weapon for us”
The Bayonne artilleryman, tenured at the opening alongside Nolann Le Garrec, fully fulfilled his role by sending missiles far in the New Zealand camp to give air to the French defense. And high, too: several of these candles were not far from hanging the roof of the Forsyth Barr Stadium of Dunedin, allowing his teammates to go and compete in the balloon control, with some successes in the first period.
“We know what they are going to do, we just have to stop them […] It is based on an excellent game at the foot, it is on this that the XV of France bases the majority of his game, ”said after the match the New Zealand coach Scott Robertson.
Difficult to prove it wrong, since the French pulled 33 times to the foot during the match, on average after three passes in hand, when the All Blacks waited on average three times more passes before restarting at the foot.
“We wanted to rely on a good game at the foot, Joris he has a length that is quite exceptional […] He is also able to stop from far away so it is true that it is a real weapon for us, “said after the end of the match Nolann Le Garrec, who took care of the other kicks, closer to poles.
“He has a certain experience” in the XV of France had justified Fabien Galkié at the time of the announcement of the team composition. “It’s his time, he deserves to attack with us. »»
“Encrep forever”
At 28 years old, New Zealand is not the first tour of the former player of the Stade Français: he had already been traveling to Australia and Argentina, without playing the slightest minute in the official match. He had participated in the match against Uruguay in the summer of 2024, but he did not count as a selection.
“It was a childhood dream,” he explained just after the match at the microphone of the Canal+broadcaster. “I don’t realize yet. It’s frustrating but at the same time we are so proud to have rivaled with this black team. »»
Like him, seven players left with a cape, a symbol of their arrival in the family of the international XV of France. Far from being taken by the stake.
“We were a lot of first capes, a fairly inexperienced team. Today I remember the state of mind, which was magnificent. It will remain engraved forever, ”continued Segonds after the meeting.
Everything was not perfect for the Bayonnais, who had a little waste in his defensive interventions, especially on the second test of the Blacks. But it is like the Blues who, on their many tackles, missed 10 %, which the All Blacks benefited with no less than eleven crossings, against three for the Blues.
