How to beat the Springboks? The question must tap Jacques Brunel, the coach of the XV of France and his staff. Especially since a week, when South Africa has spread all its might against England. It will therefore meet the physical challenge, but not only because these Bock have many other assets, including footwork and supersonic wingmen.
Respond to the physical challenge
All French players say it and repeat it. It will be necessary to answer present in the enormous physical challenge that the Springboks will impose on them. "The fight and the physical challenge remain in the DNA of the Bocks, ensures Louis Picamoles . These are players who like to score their opponent by their density. I think it's going to be the same kind of match as against England. In front of it will hit hard, it will knock
"The first 20 minutes will be decisive," adds Damian Penaud. Crucial not to sink under the thrusts of their golgoths overpowering. But Jacques Brunel has built a team with strong tonnage that should be able to give the exchange with Vahaamahina, Maestri, Iturria repositioned in 3rd line or Picamoles and of course Bastareaud in the center. After that, it's more the last 20 minutes that worry. This is where we will see if the Blues have breath to meet the international intensity for 80 minutes.
Defense: recover the efficiency of the Tournament This was one of the great satisfactions of the 6 Nations Tournament, for the debut of Jacques Brunel as coach. But the French defense then took the water in New Zealand (52-11, 26-13, 49-14). "We have to find our aggressiveness and the mobility of the tournament that we did not have during the tour," confirms the center Geoffrey Doumayrou, who has no doubt and prefers to Fickou for the guarantees he brings in This area.In the All Blacks, the Blues have "taken a lot of tests on lost balloons and transition phases , " the Rochelais analysis. "Everyone must react at the same time in the same way," said Brunel, who chose a pair of centers (Bastareaud-Doumayrou) in this sector.
Insurance as a touch
Deprived of his best jumper, Yacouba Camara, injured, the French roster is lagging behind other great nations: 76.6% success on his own throws this year, far from Welsh (93.3) or Irish (92.7). "In New Zealand, we came down against the best alignment in the world, we were a little stressed and we transmitted this stress," recalls the flanker Kélian Galletier.
According to the Montpellier, the French have "identified the flaw in touch" Bock and must be simple to do well: "It is not the number of combinations that can offer balloons, I think even the opposite. It is better to have the best timing, the best relationship between the heel and its lifters. "
To the captain Yoann Maestri to make the right choice. And Guilhem Guirado (76% success) and Camille Chat - which is the "heel" of Achilles (70%) - to ensure their throws. The Blues also hope to count, especially cons, on the contribution of Arthur Iturria, partly titularized for its "quality in the air," according to Brunel. Note that the Bock button usually so effective failed last Saturday in England, including two times on penaltouches that could have changed the course of the game.
Control the air game
"We will be sprayed with water balloon , " warns Damian Penaud. From the long foot to the foot of occupation, pressure candles but also to the game to find the arrows that South Africa has on its wings: Nkosi and Dyantyi. Especially as the scrum half Faf De Klerk is fond of these little ones over.
A rain of high balloons but also the autumn rain that will complicate the receptions. The rear triangle Médard-Thomas-Penaud must therefore expect to be watered aerial balloons and very early in the game to be tested. Brunel is aware of this: he partially justified the tenure of Penaud by his ease under the balloons higher than that of Gaël Fickou.
Bypass rather than type
If Brunel has built a physical team, yet it is well by borrowing the device that the Blues can pass. The strategy of circumvention rather than trench warfare. Because in the game of one who has the most muscles, the Springboks are likely to win. Just watch the biceps of their captain to be convinced. "We'll have to play the blows. Put volume and speed across the width but also the length of the ground. Take inspiration from U20 world champions who played in disorder. After that does not want to do anything either, " says Aubin Hueber, the new coach of the Blueberries. Beware of the stereotyped game, privileged alternation and "and if we must face them before, as much advocate balloons worn" .
"Be patient" to score Les Bleus do not concretize enough in their highlights. "We pass the first curtain but we can not score points," laments the scrum half Antoine Dupont. "It is obvious that we lose too many balloons in the conclusion zone, we are not efficient enough , " abounds Galletier. The solution? "More patience," says Camille Lopez.
"Be patient in the brand zone, which is not necessarily French. It is difficult to multiply the playing time, to hold the ball very long, " said Dupont. A patience to apply both "on the choices of play and the rhythm" , specifies the Toulousain. While a team like Ireland is able to keep the ball 20, 30 phases of play to try to score. A strategic intelligence that the Blues must acquire.