The XV of France beaten a third time by New Zealand

Three-Zero. The French male rugby team bowed again (29-19) against the All Blacks on Saturday July 19, at the Hamilton Waikato Stadium (New Zealand). The two previous tests had completed two defeats for the Blues by Fabien Galkié: 31-27, on July 5, after a match where the XV bis aligned by Fabien had surprised, and 43-17, a week later, during a meeting where the French had been exceeded 50 % of the time. “We were courageous, but, at this level, it is not enoughestimated Théo Attissogbe, after the match, at the microphone of Canal+. You have to be realistic, we leave with three defeats. »»

This third act had however started very well for the Blues, who played white this Saturday, in the freshness (9 ° C) of the southern winter. From the 8th^e Minute of play, Nolann Le Garrec, the future half of the mixture of La Rochelle, completed the work of undermining its forwards, fraying a path to the test through the defense of the Blacks (0-5). Also in charge of transformations, the Garrec-one of only two players, with Théo Attissogbe, to have been established during the three test match-added two more points to the score of the French with a guaranteed kick (0-7).

The case seemed even better committed to the 20^ewhen the New Zealand team, at fault, offered a penalty-and three more points-at the foot of Le Garrec (0-10). But faced with blacks, comfort and control exist almost ever. What winger Will Jordan was responsible for recalling quickly by taking advantage of a bad position of the French rear to register, in the race, a test, then transformed by Damian McKenzie (7-10, 22^e).

The Blues Adroit at the foot

Operating each little flaw in the New Zealand game, and thanks to the balloons recovered by their forwards, the Blues, very skillful at the foot, took ahead of the display board (10-19), thanks to a drop by Antoine Hastoy (24^e) and two penalties from Le Garrec (34^e et 37^e). A small affront quickly erased by the blacks: force test by Anton Lienert-Brown, then transformed by McKenzie (17-19, 40^e + 3).

With this slight advantage at halftime, the second period promised to be burning. On the return from the locker room, the All Blacks were fierce and put pressure on the French defense. And 59^eLéo Barré, in difficulty repeatedly, was shot a ball that Du’Plessis Kirifi was responsible for flattening in the in-goal (22-19).

At this stage of the game, all the hopes remained authorized for the Blues, despite the territorial domination of the New Zealanders. But the dream of success in the face of the blacks outside was definitively flying to the 76^ewhen Brodie MCALISTER, well served by Jordie Barrett, scored a new essay, transformed in the process by McKenzie (29-19).

After a good first period, the XV of France committed “Too many faults” In the second half, said the Lyonnais Mickaël Guillard. “By dint of undergoing, we take points”continued the player on Canal+. “They gave them a hard timesaid Gaël Fickou, captain of the Habs during this tour. We manage to hang the blacks twice, with a fairly new team. Mentally, we were very worthy and strong. »»

The state of mind of this French team deprived of its best elements, left at rest, will remain as one of the positive aspects of these test games. But it will take a few more years for the Blues to sign the fifth success of their history in New Zealand. This kind of performance only occurs once every fifteen years, approximately. The previous ones date back to 1979, 1994 (two victories) and 2009.