This Saturday, the alignment of the XV of France lost four throws when the Blacks have registered their first three tests on “first hand” behind a touch. This sector, among so many others, has cost inexperienced blues dearly.
Such a wide defeat as that suffered by the Blues this Saturday in Wellington cannot have only one cause. Defensive errors, black superiority in impacts and indiscipline have been so many unfavorable indicators. Among all the fallible sectors of the day, the touch cost particularly dear to Gaëtan Barlot and its partners. While the XV of France could until then pride itself on a very favorable ratio this season (66/67 in the tournament, 5/5 during the first test), it could not use this launch ramp as it would have liked; And as New Zealand has done so well.
After the beautiful and long inaugural tricolor sequence, the first throw, as the twenty-two opposing meters approached, was captured by Patrick Tuipulotu (5e). Everything except a detail, this recovery allowing hosts to reverse the pressure. Two other ammunition was lost in the first act, Fabian Holland winning before Joshua Brennan (9e) While the ultimate opportunity, 40 meters from in-goal, was spoiled by a lift concern on Esteban Abadie (39e). The second period began on the same basics with a clumsiness of Gaëtan Barlot – also often the author of Lunches a little too low – at the bottom of alignment (42e).
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If, the French touch was not efficient enough in attack, it also has too ineffective in defense. And it was by using this launch ramp as they please that Ardie Savea and her teammates built their match: after a first combination attempt for Cameron Roigard, a beautifully orchestrated false track deceived the tricolor defenders and sent the melee half to the end (14e); By following, the Blacks were able to make their confidence grow in this sector by focusing on two penaltrics followed by conquering mauls (24e29e). With all the changes made before this test – seven within the only pack – and the relative inexperience of the calls of the day, all that had nothing very surprising …
The wave of replacements at the start of the second act-with the science of Woki and the density of Taofifenua in particular-made it possible to rebalance the balance of forces in the air, the Blues even managing to chew two New Zealand throws and finding more precision on their own balloons. But it was obviously too little. And too late.