The XV of France, largely overhauled but applied, beat Fiji (34-17) on Saturday in Nantes for its third and penultimate match of preparation for the 2023 World Cup. The Blues, who will face the All Blacks at the opening of the World Cup, scored three tries by Peato Mauvaka (29th), Uini Atonio (39th) and Sekou Macalou (59th). The list of 33 players called up for the competition will be announced on Monday.
Published on: 08/19/2023 – 23:40Modified on: 08/19/2023 – 23:38
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The XV of France, for its third preparation match for the 2023 World Cup, gave Nantes a clean and solid copy on Saturday against Fiji (34-17), twenty days before the shock against the All Blacks at the opening of the FIFA Cup. world.
And less than 48 hours from the announcement of the list of 33 who will compete in the World Cup (September 8 – October 28), Monday, on the set of the 1 p.m. news on TF1, some have scored points, such as the rear Melvyn Jaminet, when others struggled, like the Jonathan Danty center.
After two lackluster warm-up matches against Scotland (defeat in Edinburgh 25-21, victory in Saint-Etienne 30-27), the Blues, whose executives had been left to rest in Capbreton (Landes), thus avenged the humiliating defeat (21-14) of November 2018 at the Stade de France against these same “Flying Fijians”.
The performance of this “bis” team against a relatively uninspired although solid opponent was serious and applied, with three tries in the key (Mauvaka, Atonio, Macalou), even if sometimes lacking a little madness. But it was a preparation match and the flights will be for later.
The XV of France now has an appointment for a final test next Sunday against Australia, before launching “its” World Cup against New Zealand on September 8 in Saint-Denis.
The Fijians, meanwhile, will find the English next weekend at Twickenham, who suffered Saturday in Dublin the law of Ireland (29-10), the world’s first nation.
This thirtieth victory for Fabien Galthié since the start of his mandate has above all the merit of restoring a little balm to the hearts of the Blues.
The opener of the XV of France Matthieu Jalibert tackles a Fijian player, August 19, 2023 in Nantes © LOIC VENANCE / AFP
Their week had indeed started badly, with the terrible announcement on Monday of the withdrawal of the opening half Romain Ntamack, victim of a rupture of the cruciate ligament of the left knee last Saturday against Scotland (30-27) at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium. .
An injury that no doubt hovered in the minds of Grégory Alldritt’s teammates, for whom it was the first match as captain of the Blues, when entering the lawn, just like the approach of the “verdict of 33” .
The first period did not start with a bang, unlike the cannonball starts to which the Blues had become accustomed in recent months.
Lightning Makalou
Alas, we were even bored in the stands, to the point that, while Melvyn Jaminet chained the penalties, taking advantage of the indiscipline of the opponent, an incongruous “Pena Baiona” descended from the stands.
The Blues tried a few attacks, but struggled to get them to the end, the last pass missing several times.
It was thus necessary to wait until the 29th minute to see the first try of the meeting, the work of hooker Peato Mauvaka, his sixth in the blue jersey, to finally ignite the some 30,000 spectators in the Nantes enclosure.
The satisfaction of the French Antoine Hastoy (c) and Thibaud Flament (d) after the victory against Fiji, August 19, 2023 in Nantes © LOIC VENANCE / AFP
No time to show off, however: the Fijians responded immediately, also in force and also through their No.2, Tevita Ikanievere (16-10, 32nd).
Fortunately, just before half-time, the French forwards once again hit the bull’s eye thanks to La Rochelle pillar Uini Atonio, his second in 52 selections, triggering a joyful “here, here, it’s La Rochelle” in the Nantes enclosure.
On returning from the locker room, apart from the entry into play of the pillar Thomas Laclayat, synonymous with first selection for the former resident of Oyonnax, little to eat before long minutes.
Until the opportunistic interception of Sekou Macalou, who had barely entered the game, for a try between the posts (59th), transformed by Jaminet, with Swiss clock regularity (19 points).
