“Everyone would like to play this match,” assured Fabien Galthié this week in Marcoussis. To take the pressure off his new fullback Romain Buros for his first selection, the coach of the French XV, ultimately winning in a landslide over New Zealand on Saturday at the Stade de France (30-29), assured that it would be “ a dream” for the 27-year-old from Bordeaux. This shock against the All Blacks could however have turned into a nightmare. “I’ve had a difficult week,” Buros admitted after the match. I’ve been stressed since Monday. I tried to have fun. Before the anthems and the haka, I left a lot of input in the warm-up. “.
After a start to the match that he himself judged to be “a little under the weather”, Romain Buros explained that he had freed himself. Even marking his first try, that of the blue revolt, from his first selection. Like its youngest, the entire XV of France was able to pull itself together wonderfully and manage its emotions. A saving mental boost when the Blues had just conceded two tries and were trailing 14-3 after half an hour of play, overtaken in conquest, dominated on all impacts, and deprived of the ball.
“There was no panic or stress”
Many teams would not have recovered. But these Blues never doubted. “We told ourselves all week that our strength is our character,” explains Paul Boudehent, author of the second French attempt, that of the equalizer. As a Frenchman, I am convinced, we have an extra bit of soul. On the pitch, we are capable of surpassing ourselves. Even when we are led, we tell ourselves that we are capable of it. There was no panic or stress. »
Even when the All Blacks are close to making another break, shortly before the break. “This sequence where we don’t take a point before half-time does us good,” says second row Thibaud Flament. It allows us to keep one foot in the match. It allowed us to refocus, to continue to believe in it, to restart well. In the locker room, we told ourselves that we believed it, that they were going to blow up, that we had confidence in our resources to get back into the match. »
Dupont’s halftime speech
“In the locker room, we look at the score. We tell ourselves that we are only seven points behind (10-17), and that we can get them back up, adds Mickaël Guillard, one of the latest arrivals in this group. And then, Antoine spoke.” Captain Dupont, his aura, his confidence, his rage to win, undoubtedly contributed to instilling that “extra soul” that his teammates speak of.
Returning from the locker room, the Blues close ranks. “We felt better defensively in the second half,” continues Guillard. We said to ourselves at half-time that we would stop looking at the rucks when we weren’t concerned with the tackle. We had to move quickly, because they moved the ball a lot. » A strategic adjustment that hits the mark. “We were resilient,” summarizes Gaël Fickou.
The Blues were also able to count on two “Louis’ attempt hurts them. We know him, with his speed qualities, we know that there is a good chance of going to the end, admits his Bordeaux teammate Romain Buros. And Thomas, this evening, he once again proves that we can count on him. He is a world-class player. »
“We also wanted to make history”
Once the advantage was taken (24-17 in the 51st), it was still necessary to resist the New Zealand comeback at the end of the match. Here again, the solidarity and state of mind of these Blues made the difference. “To feel that we can count on each other when we defend on the line, it’s an exhilarating feeling,” greets boss Antoine Dupont, proud of his troops, after the match. Winning the All Blacks is always strong. »
For him, it’s the 3rd time in a row, since this founding match (40-25), right here 3 years ago. For another part of this group, heading towards 2027, this victory may have the same effect. “There are quite a few players who watched this 2021 match on TV,” admits Paul Boudehent. And we also wanted to make history. » Seeing the explosion of joy from the 80,000 spectators at the Stade de France on Saturday, it was a success.
