Job done but ‘Jalimack’ partnership
THE FIRST public outing for France’s grand Matthieu Jalibert-Romain Ntamack 10-12 experiment was cut short after 53 minutes, as Les Bleus eased away from Argentina to win at Stade de France.
On first showing, it’s impossible to say whether ‘Jalimack’ was a success. As a partnership it was largely anonymous – Jalibert looked more comfortable after Ntamack was hooked for traditional centre Jonathan Danty. But it’s a plan that has been considered for too long to be discarded straightaway.
Another experiment, however, was a success. Young lock Thibault Flament, 49 minutes into his first international and two years after he was playing fly-half for Loughborough University Fifths – bounded over for the try that settled French nerves after they had been repeatedly frustrated by the determined visitors.
And the backwards selection policy of choosing a bench for the specific purpose of adding power and pace in the closing minutes also worked. The ‘finishers’ did their job – Peata Mauvaka’s contestkilling try after 70 minutes was exactly what
Galthie ordered. France have struggled to close out games in recent years. Five of their six losses under Fabien Galthie have involved them losing a lead in the closing minutes.
Three minutes after Flament scored, captain Antoine Dupont thought he finished off an exceptional French move that started in their 22 – only to be called back for a knockon right at the start.
By then, however, Les Bleus had the upper hand. Argentina still had reserves of aggressiveness, but the game was mostly being played far from the French line.
The Pumas had threatened to crash France’s party, scoring the first try of the game in the 21st minute, scrum-half
Tomas Cubelli splashing over from 1m after Pablo Matera had charged down Matthieu Jalibert’s 22m restart.
Cubelli has scored better tries - but few will have silenced a crowd still warming up for an expected exhibition of newly rediscovered French flair.
Melvyn Jaminet had earlier landed two penalties, and would add another in the closing minutes of a strangely entertaining first half that was long on passion and ambition but short on actual rugby.
The first 40 minutes of the lauded Jalibert-Ntamack partnership was disappointingly quiet, as France occasionally threatened but mostly huffed and puffed ineffectively – and with mounting frustration – in the face of a wall of Argentinian defenders. Referee Ben O’Keeffe, who had done well to keep a lid on boiling Latin passions, had no choice but to send France hooker Julien Marchand and Argentinian back row Marcus Kremer to the sin bin after one first-half shoving match too many.
Beyond Jaminet, most of the positive play from France in the opening period was straight outta Toulouse. Captain Dupont was his usual livewire self; Anthony Jelonch crashed into the Argentinian defences time and again; Cyril Baille was as willing in the loose as he was able at loosehead. But Pumas’ Mario Ledesma was probably the happier of the two coaches at halftime.
Forty minutes later, despite a late score from Pumas’ winger, it was Galthie who was smiling. But he knew there was plenty to work on ahead of next week’s match against Georgia and the impending New Zealand challenge.