6 Nations Tournament: erase the hangover or plunge into the crisis ? The French XV in kilt or double, this Saturday in Scotland

Beaten in the opening match against Ireland, the French XV must get their heads back together this Saturday in Scotland. MAXPPP – SPEICH Frederic

The slap inflicted by Ireland sounds like a cry of alarm for the upset Blues, eager to show their "true face" at Murrayfield.  

Every team has its own pet peeve. That of the Blues has spice, has the whimsical strategist Finn Russell and, above all, is the team which has beaten France most often since coach Fabien Galthié took office, in 2020: three victories in seven matches, including the last two matches, at Murrayfield (25-21) and Saint-Etienne (27-30), last August during preparation matches for the World Cup. Formidable Scotland.

A trend confirmed in the 6 Nations Tournament, with four successes on both sides in the last eight duels. The stage is set: after a messed up start (17-38) against Ireland in Marseille, the XV of France is walking on fiery thistles but must imperatively redo the cherry on Saturday in order to maintain its hopes in the competition. Kilted or double. 

Feeling of submission and powerlessness

A week ago, the list of blue gaps sounded like a cry of alarm. Insufficient physical commitment, porous defense, faulty touch, red card for Paul Willemse… The Blues came through in great ways. But, what worries the most beyond their traditional failed Tournament starts, is the feeling of submission and helplessness given off by a team visibly without resources or new ideas. As if the famous "game of dispossession" advocated by the coach was an immutable panacea.  

We made the choice not to let go

The trip to Murrayfield, hostile territory for the Tricolores, is there to remind us of the obvious: a third setback in a row, which would be a first for Galthié, would be really bad and would plunge the XV of France into a crisis of & rsquo;a magnitude that he never experienced under the direction of the former Montpellier manager. So much for the dark side. A more optimistic side would have him build on the confidence he had before the quarter-final lost (28-29) against the Boks, when the Blues, in full success, were marching on the stomach of most of their adversaries. Is he capable today of finding this going ?     

France is "capable of anything"

"We made the choice to take responsibility, to work together, to not give up on each other and to say to ourselves: we fell once but must react now. And there is nothing better than traveling to Scotland to show a better face in terms of commitment", assured third row François Cross . So, to get back in the saddle, coach Fabien Galthié decided to change almost nothing. Only second row Cameron Woki and winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey find their place. Change in continuity or stubbornness ?

France "is capable of anything", warned the Scottish third line Rory Darge, who will want confirm the suspenseful victory won in Wales (27-28). Saturday's duel, which raises many questions, should provide valuable lessons on the ability of the Blues to regain their collective strength and a mentality of steel. A single mission: to anesthetize the hangover that stretches into the confines of winter. "We want to show our true colors", promised Captain Grégory Alldritt.