The Blues keep repeating it: they play a round of 16 match against Italy on Friday evening (9 p.m.). Because in the event of a defeat against the Transalpins in Décines-Charpieu (Rhône), the French XV has a huge chance of disappearing from its home World Cup in the group stages. An industrial accident that Fabien Galthié’s men must avoid facing an opponent who put them in difficulty during the last Six Nations Tournament in February, with a difficult victory (24-29) in Rome.
“They know how to transcend themselves in front of us, they have this gift,” says Gaël Fickou, the three-quarter center of the Blues. It’s a neighboring country, with players who play in France or would like to play there. From now on, it’s sudden death anyway. So, you shouldn’t miss it. »
“We must not give them easy penalties”
In Italy this winter, he and the rest of the tricolors launched their Tournament with very strong indiscipline. The Blues ended the match with 18 penalties whistled against them. “We shouldn’t give them easy penalties,” says the Racing 92 player. “They restart from a long distance, we know what we have to focus on in relation to that. We worked a lot with Jérôme (Garcès, former referee now on the staff) on this. »
“You have to be intelligent to stem their incessant, intelligent and disciplined attacks,” continues manager Raphaël Ibanez. And follow the example of the All Blacks who crushed these Italians (96-17) in this same stadium a week ago. A spanking revealing the problems of the Transalpines or who will transcend them against the Blues?
“We leave them their ability to rebel, that doesn’t belong to us,” continues the former hooker. Our duty is to control our match. » And not to plunge millions of supporters into disarray, Friday, at the end of the evening.
