France-Argentina: draft, the XV of France overcomes catchy Pumas – franceinfo

Double sided. One might think that it is to the mythical villain of Batman that the France team wanted to pay tribute, this Saturday, November 6, at the Stade de France, for its first match in front of its audience since the start of the Covid-19 crisis . Against the Argentinian “cousins”, the Blues won (29-20), after a long battle not always under control.

In a long heavy atmosphere, marked by some jostling, under the screams of the 50,000 spectators and a chilling freshness, Fabien Galthié’s players put on a not very shiny but combative face, and knew how to ensure the essential.

Between the privacy of the walls of a rugby locker room, a few seconds before kick-off, it is often customary for a player or a member of the staff to recall the importance of the first tackle, the one that sets the tone. ‘an encounter. The first, the work of Anthony Jelonch, amounted to a failed dive. The adage has not failed. Six times penalized in 25 minutes, behind the supports, dominated in the rucks, stifled by the Argentine defense which prevented the new Jalibert-Ntamack association from breaking in, the Blues were not in the tempo.

They took a long time to find it. Sparks here and there, a tackle from Dupont, a scratch from Jelonch, but a glaring lack of continuity. Jostled in conquest, the captain of the evening, Antoine Dupont, was frankly embarrassed to properly launch the three-quarter line and allow Jalibert and Ntamack to exhibit all the talent that we know them. The fault may be due to a lack of power in the front eight, but above all to Pumas faithful to their reputation: roomers, catchers. But the test scored by Cubelli (22nd), the first of the meeting, was not enough to overthrow the Blues.

The consecutive entries of the massive Romain Taofifenua, Gregory Alldritt in front and Jonathan Danty, around the 50th minute, brought more defensive footing, while the Pumas began to ease off physically. The second line of Stade Toulousain, Thibaud Flament, took the opportunity to slam a first try for his first selection (50th, 16-10), while Peato Mauvaka also released his selection counter in the 71st minute (26-10) .

But this victory, the Tricolores also owe it to a UFO landed recently: Melvyn Jaminet. It is thanks to him that the Blues were in contact at the break (9-7). And if his game at the foot of occupation was not as effective as last July, the back of the USAP again shone with his role of scorer (7/8) and raises that allowed his team to move forward. A precious metronome which knew how to punish the Argentinian faults and give a little air to the Blues who have long been sorely lacking.