“This is our history. Last year their history belonged to them.” Antonin Corso, second row of the Oyonnax Espoirs, makes no mistake. These boys must write their own pages in the book of French rugby. Behind the 2018, 2019 and 2023 generations, victorious in the U20 World Cup, this new group takes up the torch, to leave its own mark. A task that is not the easiest because many of the Bleuets of yesterday are shining today in the French championship, or under the tricolor jersey of the A team. Sébastien Calvet’s players know that this World Cup in South Africa is a way to show that they are at the level of their predecessors.
Third in the last Six Nations Tournament with three matches lost, the French under-twenties arrive in the competition with a mixed record. Strong in a spirit of revenge, the Bleuets are no less demotivated: “Even if we remained disappointed after the tournament, we only won away so that’s the positive point we can cling to , confides Hoani Bosmorin, young winger from Stade Rochelais. We came to win. We have a title to defend, it’s not easy but everyone who is there deserves their place and is ready. We will try to start the competition as best as possible. »
To do this, the French team flew to Georgia in preparation for the World Cup in order to complete a one-week training course, with an opposition match against the national team. After significant turnover in the workforce, the group needed to create automation. Indeed, the world champion team had to adapt to numerous changes since the generation of Depoortère, Costes, Jauneau, Jegou now applied for the A team and gave way to younger, less experienced players. Not to mention the absence of certain leaders, such as the injured Marko Gazzotti, Mathis Castro-Ferreira in the Toulouse group for the Top 14 final, who will join the group in the middle of the competition, or even Posolo Tuilagi and Léon Darricarrère selected by Fabien Galthié for the summer tour.
Despite this, Sébastien Calvet and his staff remain confident about the group’s abilities: “We are approaching this championship with real adversity and strength through the group. Less strong, when we think of what Posolo could bring for example, but we know that if we give ourselves the means we can go to the end of the competition. » An opinion shared by Hugo Reus, team captain and fly half of Stade Rochelais, who is one of the group’s alumni, champions last year: “All the players played one or two matches during the Tournament. The project does not change for those who were there last year. There are still connections to be made between us because our group doesn’t know each other very well but I have total confidence in all the guys next to me to make up for last year’s big performance. »
The first test for the French team will be against Spain, second division world champions, on Saturday at 2 p.m. (French time), to establish a benchmark match before challenging the Baby Blacks, six-time world champions in the category, Thursday (4:30 p.m.) for the second match of the group stage.
Group stage schedule for the Bleuets:
– Saturday June 29 (2 p.m.): France – Spain
– Thursday July 4 (4:30 p.m.): France-New Zealand
– Tuesday July 9 at 7 p.m.: France – Wales
