FRANCE. RUGBY. Audience, record and dentures … The victory against the All Blacks in figures! – The Rugbynistère

This Saturday, November 20 at the Stade de France, the Blues have signed one of the most beautiful victories in their history. Winner of All Blacks, Antoine Dupont and his teammates put an end to a series of more or less marked (and noticeable) brawls against Sam Whitelock’s teammates. The day after the feat, relive the meeting through the highlights of the evening.

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This Saturday, the Blues made the break against the All Blacks. This difference of more than 14 points, significant in the world of the oval ball, allows to sign what one could call a clear victory. But more than mere symbolism, it is a historical figure. Indeed, France had never widened such a gap vis-à-vis the men in black. The last record gap was held by the men of Pierre Berbizier. Realized on June 26, 1994, the tricolors were imposed on the score of 8 to 22 in New Zealand soil, a difference of 14 points. But this match remained in the legend for another reason than the large victory of the French. Indeed, that day a young player gets his first cap at 19 years and 45 days and becomes the youngest All Blacks international. Her name ? Jonah Lomu.

6,300,000

This is the audience of the historic meeting disputed against the All Blacks. These figures published by Médiamétrie and relayed by our colleagues from RMC Sport show the enthusiasm behind the Blues for this explosive final of the November 2021 tour. In addition, the meeting achieved the best audience for a match outside the Tournament and World Cup since the victory of the Blues in 2009 against New Zealand. This popularity is not, however, the most marked of the year. This winter, the games against England (6.4 million) and Scotland (7.6 million) were more successful. Like what, even the most prestigious test-matches always struggle to have the impact of the iconic European trophy.

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It’s an absolute record! The France team is the only one to have 3 wins of at least 40 points against the All Blacks. If Australians and South Africans have already achieved river scores in their victories, they have never done so often. Apart from this year’s poster, the Blues had already passed the 40 mark during a landmark meeting at the Marseille Velodrome on November 18, 2000 where the current coach, then player, Fabien Galthié had scored a decisive try for Blues. The final score was 42 to 33. However, the most significant meeting against the New Zealanders, all fans of rugby know it. Considered the most beautiful match in the history of the XV of France by some, the 1999 World Cup semi-final ended with an indecent score of 43 to 31. What seemed at the time to be taking the path of ‘a well-traced drop, 24-10 in the 45th, took a magical turn for “Titou” Lamaison and his teammates. The most striking action? This magical attempt in the 56th minute which gave the French advantage only 10 minutes later. We hope that more than 20 years later and from there, “Domi” took pleasure in seeing our Blues currying Sam Cane and his teammates.

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Of them testing. This is the rendering of Peato Mauvaka, the hooker of the France team, against the All Blacks. Unplanned holder following the package of Julien Marchand, he has held his role and maintained the incredible level he has shown since the start of the season. In history no one has done better than him in one match. But some have done as well. The latest? Philippe Saint-André in 1995 who applied alongside Jean-Patrick Lescarboura in 1984 and Serge Blanco in 1989. The young Toulouse player is the only forward on the list. He is also the only one to have achieved this performance on the occasion of a victory. They are now four to be able to boast of it.

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As the number of teeth that Damian Penaud had lost in training two years ago. Following a shock with his former teammate Remy Grosso, the versatile rear had seen two incisors fly and had been the victim of about twenty stitches. A handicap which had greatly amused the player who had laughed about it on the networks and which obviously does not prevent him from making only one mouthful of the New Zealand defense!

656

It is the number of days that separates the release of this article and what should be, except surprise, the next match against the All Blacks and France. That is, the opening match of the 2023 World Cup in France. If nothing is yet played a little less than two years from the deadline, we can nevertheless say that the Blues are (already) starting to build up confidence.