The time of the revolt. Less than a week after having tripped up in the face of these same Wallabies (23-21), the XV of France finds Australia, Tuesday in Melbourne, to straighten his head and afford a beautiful Saturday . For this revenge, “a test of character” according to him, the coach of the Blues Fabien Galthié has decided to breathe a little freshness and physical density, just to regain control in the series.
Five changes, all ahead: pillar Wilfrid Hounkpatin (Castres, 30 years old, 1st selection), second lines Cyril Cazeaux (UBB, 26 years old, 4th selection) and Pierre-Henri Azagoh (Stade français, 22 years old, 1st selection), as well as the third lines Cameron Woki (Bordeaux-Bègles, 22 years old, 7th selection) and Ibrahim Diallo (Racing 92, 23 years old, 1st selection).
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31 years without a win …
A straight of “new” therefore enters the starting XV (25 years, 6 selections of average), reworked to the third, to find color a few days after the defeat on the wire (23-21) at the end of an improbable boondoggle at the last second when he had the game in hand. Because a new defeat against the double world champions (1991, 1999), however not really impressive in the middle of the week, would mean another negative tour. As in 2018 in New Zealand or in 2017 in South Africa. Two rounds ended on three setbacks.
To avoid returning to France with their tail between their legs, the “new look” Blues, deprived of their executives (Dupont, Ntamack, Ollivon, Alldritt, Fickou …), must achieve a great feat: the French team of rugby has not won in Australia since a 28-19 success on June 30, 1990. No Blue of 2021 was born at that time. The current coach (52) still had about a year to wait for the first of his 64 capes, while manager Raphaël Ibanez (48) had not yet played in the first division.
In Melbourne, where France has never won (defeats 6-0 in 2014 and 29-17 in 2002), it will therefore be necessary to win the first test match of a summer tour since a 27-0 victory in Argentina in. .. 2016. Not an easy task, especially since the Wallabies have renewed the same XV with one exception. Coach Dave Rennie has started right pillar Taniela Tupou in place of Allan Alaalatoa.
A tour to “discover talents”
The entry into play of the “Tongan Thor” in the second half during the inaugural test had given a little dynamism to an Australian game a bit stereotypical. For the Blues, it will also be a question of erasing two consecutive losses, against Scotland (27-23) in March for the last match of the Six Nations Tournament, then in Australia last week, a first of the Galthié era.
But listening to him, the result is not an obsession for the coach. “We sought to build a high-performance team, capable of ‘matching’ with the Australians, while keeping a group of 41 players. Let’s not forget that when we went on tour, the goal was to discover talents, “he recalled on Sunday. Australia “builds its season with high quality elements”, also noted Ibanez, stressing “the physical pressure that this team can exert on its opponent”.
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