The Blues recorded a second victory in these group stages, but the task was not easy against a tough Uruguay team, author of two tries and who didn’t give up. Facing the Teros, Fabien Galthié’s men, approximate, struggling in melee, scared each other on numerous occasions. The XV of France is certainly a winner thanks to three tries from Hastoy (11th), Mauvaka (55th) and Bielle-Biarrey (73rd), but without the offensive bonus.
– Back Melvyn Jaminet confirmed his kicking game against the poles, he scored 12 points, always good to take.
– Anthony Jelonch, captain of the Blues for this meeting, made his comeback in the French XV jersey after his left knee injury. Replaced in the 50th minute, the third row was however discreet.
– Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the liberator. The young three-quarter wing scored the third try of the match to mark his first try in the competition at just 20 years old! In the reserve during this match, the room for improvement remains large for “LBB”.
– With this second consecutive victory, the French team temporarily takes the lead in Pool A, ahead of Italy and New Zealand.
And now ? The Blues will have to quickly question themselves to rectify their situation against Namibia on September 21 in Marseille. Even if, on paper, the Antoine Dupont gang should logically win and, above all, have the chance of taking the precious offensive bonus. The two teams have met twice in the World Cup during the group stages. Matches which ended in big victories for the Blues: 47-13 in 1999 and 87-10 in 2007.
Qualified in July 2022 for the World Cup by beating Kenya 36-0 in the Rugby Africa Cup, the Namibian XV will put their heart into the work against the France XV. We will notably follow Torsten van Jaarsveld, 36 years old. The former Namibian hooker from Aviron Bayonnais is participating here in his third World Cup after those of 2015 and 2019.
France-Namibia, Thursday September 21. Kick-off at 9 p.m. at the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille.
