Rejuvenated and deprived of its tauliers – but imperial for forty minutes – the XV of France took its feet in the carpet in the second half to lose Saturday, August 5 in Scotland (25-21), first match of preparation for the World Cup at home (September 8 - October 28).

Three tries from scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud (12th), winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey (25th) and second row Cameron Woki (40th+2) in the first half had given the Blues eighteen points at the break against sluggish Scots (21-3).

But the XV of the Thistle is never as strong as its back to the wall. Pushed by a whole stadium, Finn Russell's teammates, reduced to fourteen after the yellow card turned into red of the pillar Zander Fagerson (55th), came back strong in the last forty minutes, scoring three tries in turn by winger Darcy Graham (42nd), pillar Pierre Schoeman (54th) and hooker David Cherry (64th).

The locals even saw two more tries disallowed, to winger Duhan van der Merwe (33rd) and then to full-back Blair Kinghorn (60th).

"Electric scooters"

But this meeting against the fifth world nation, at Murrayfield, with its almost typical team, had above all the air of a life-size test for the men of Fabien Galthié, who had launched three neophytes.

Three-quarters Émilien Gailleton (20) and Louis Bielle-Biarrey (20) and Paul Boudehent (23) were not impressed: the first two, nicknamed "the electric scooters", made their speed speak while the third line of La Rochelle was valuable by its slaughter.

Enough to give solutions to the staff of the Blues before the announcement, on August 21, of the list of 33 players summoned to participate in the World Cup. Because, with only 14 caps and an average age of 25 and a half at kick-off, Fabien Galthié had clearly decided to offer a chance to show himself to some players.

Second leg in a week

In his fight for the position of scrum-half replacing the substitute, behind captain Antoine Dupont and his usual substitute Maxime Lucu, Lyon's Baptiste Couilloud, leading on two of the three tries scored in the first half, scored points in his duel with Toulon's Baptiste Serin.

Pillar Demba Bamba, second line Cameron Woki, center Yoram Moefana and third line Yoan Tanga also stood out. Just like captain for a day Brice Dulin, who returned to the France team after two years of absence. Enough to upset the hierarchy?

"What is unfortunate is that we build our first half very well, we put things in order, and in the second they manage to keep us at home (...). It's encouraging, but given what we've produced it's really frustrating not to have hung on to the victory," said Brice Dulin.

These Blues still have three weeks and two matches, against Scotland in a week in Saint-Etienne, then Fiji on August 19 in Nantes, to earn their place alongside the usual executives, such as Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Gaël Fickou or Grégory Alldritt.

🏴🇫🇷 After a very good first half of our Blues, Scotland wins this preparation match after a suffocating 🥵

end of the match There will be a return match next Saturday in Saint-Étienne🔜🟢#ECOFRA #UnisPourUnRêve #NeFaisonsXV #XVdeFrance pic.twitter.com/Bml8vn0big

— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) August 5, 2023

Despite a less controlled second period, the Blues seem armed for their World Cup, which they will start with a major shock against New Zealand on September 8. The mindset and the desire are there.

Scotland, for its part, showed two faces: the first worrying where Gregor Townsend's men seemed unable to react against a team that clearly lacked benchmarks and automatisms; the second much more reassuring and realistic with leaders found and effective.

But Scotland have a mountain to overcome: they are in the terrible Group B, alongside the world champions South Africa and the world No. 1 Irish.

With AFP

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