Historic triumph shows France could be biggest threat to Jones’ plans
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any a true word is spoken in jest, and perhaps that was the case when Eddie Jones quipped to the Amazon Prime pundits: “Next week I’m going to France. I don’t like how France are developing, mate… we need to get a bit of spying going on...” The real purpose of Jones’s visit is to check out training bases for the 2023 World Cup. But after the historic win against New Zealand on Saturday – the first on French soil in 21 years – there are several reasons why the England head coach may want to do a bit of reconnaissance work on the side.
There is plenty of talent beyond Dupont and Ntamack
From the outset of this French rugby renaissance, scrum-half Antoine Dupont and fly-half Romain Ntamack have grabbed the headlines, and there is no doubt that their telepathic relationship is one of the things that England will have to worry about before meeting them in the Stade de France in the final round of the 2022 Six Nations.
This French golden generation are hungry to win their first significant silverware. Wing Damian Penaud, who launched himself on the global stage during the World Cup in Japan two years ago, had his progress stunted by injury. But there is no doubting the quality of the Clermont Auvergne man. Due to starting his career as a centre, the 25-year-old has great vision. He helped to set up Ntamack for his try against the All Blacks and then sealed the match with his intercept try. Similar praise could be repeated across the squad.
Hooker Peato Mauvaka scored a brace of tries – taking his tally to five for the autumn, having never scored a Test try before. Then there was 22-year-old full-back Melvyn Jaminet, who was metronomic in his place-kicking and showed tremendous composure from the back.
They look like they can ‘out-new Zealand New Zealand’
New Zealand fought back to score three tries in quick succession, having been 24-6 down at the interval, but France did not unravel. They did what their opponents have been doing for years – they used unstructured rugby brilliantly.
The moment of the match was the counter-attack launched by Ntamack, which was stopped by the cynical play of No8 Ardie Savea, who was sent to the sin-bin. Jaminet kicked a penalty that gave his side a five-point cushion.
The All Blacks looked rattled, and Penaud’s interception of a poor pass from replacement David Havili was another sign that the French were “out-new Zealanding New Zealand”.
With usual captain Charles Ollivon injured, Dupont led like a great All Black captain of the past such as Richie Mccaw, doing his job beautifully and keeping a calm head. Another ominous portent.
Shaun Edwards has added grit to flair and defence is improving France looked like a team being reborn during the 2019 World Cup, when Fabien Galthie was successor in waiting to Jacques Brunel, but their defence was erratic. Since the arrival of Shaun Edwards, Les Bleus finally seem to be able to balance their flair with grit, and this famous win was a great example.
Gael Fickou did a tremendous job marshalling the defensive work of the backs – not something you would normally associate with a French team, but an Edwards hallmark. The Wigan man has been in the job for only two years.
When you consider what a mindset shift was needed in French rugby regarding defence, imagine how good it could get over the next two years in the World Cup buildup. Marry that with a French penchant for unpredictability, and you can see the defence possibly evolving to a point where analysts will not be able to break it down too much.