Less than a week after a heavy defeat against world champions South Africa (17-32), the French team achieved another success, Saturday 15 November, in Bordeaux, against Fiji (34-21). Dominant at the start of the match, the Blues were made difficult by the strength of the Pacific players. They were the difference at the end of a tense match, thanks to the second try from Bordeaux’s Nicolas Depoortère. Fabien Galthié’s troops reassured themselves a little before facing Australia, Saturday 22 November, at the Stade de France, in Saint Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis).
What to remember
- Cador. Nicolas Depoortere
Established in the center of attack, he had the difficult task of replacing the experienced Gaël Fickou. A brilliantly successful mission for the Bordeaux player who shone in front of the Gironde public. Author of France’s first try, he notably scored the final goal as the Blues were still trailed by the Fijians.
6ᵉ, 5-0: Toulouse Pierre-Louis Barassi sees space, rushes in and finds his friend Nicolas Depoortère who scores between the posts despite a tackle.
15th, 12-0: Charles Ollivon wins the ball perfectly with a throw to a distance of 5 meters from the goal line. The second French line initiated a perfectly driven carry ball and hooker Julien Marchand just had to level it.
19, 19-0: Damian Penaud wins the ball back and immediately raises his head to launch a counterattack. He was led by Bordeaux team-mate Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who accelerated, dropped the defense and found Charles Ollivon who extended his stride to celebrate his return to selection with a try.
28, 21-5: Fiji center Kalaveti Ravouvou gets the best of Fiji, who have dominated for several minutes. He dodged tackles from Romain Taofifénua and Régis Montagne while trying to score.
40ᵉ, 21-12: Fiji continues to pass more and more passes in their trademark style until the French defense concedes another blow. Winger Selestino Ravutaumada appreciated his team’s work by scoring the second try for the Pacific team.
43rd, 21-19: Already trailing, the French defense finally accepts a try from Lyonnais Jiuta Wainiqolo, who scores with three French players on his back.
71ᵉ, 32-21: at the end of a tense match, Thomas Ramos served to Nicolas Depoortère 20 meters from the goal, and the Bordeaux midfielder accelerated, before bouncing off the defender and falling in the goal to score twice.
By winning against Fiji, the French team ended a run of four defeats – the most significant since the arrival of Fabien Galthié on the French bench in 2020.
On our scale of A to E, we give this encounter a grade of C. There were attempts and turnarounds but the game was primarily characterized by inaccuracies, hand errors and penalties.
