The Rise of Les Bleus: Five Key Lessons from France’s Dominant Victory over Australia

France v Australia: Five takeaways from Les Bleus’ impressive win in final World Cup warm-up hit-out

Les Bleus’ ruthless edge

France‘s 41-17 victory over Australia in their final Rugby World Cup warm-up match showcased their ruthless edge and ability to score in the blink of an eye. Players like Damian Penaud and Antoine Dupont displayed their box of tricks, leaving the Wallabies unable to keep up with their level of play. France‘s intelligence and confidence were evident in their kick-passes to Penaud and Gabin Villiere. This French team possesses a level of ruthlessness in possession that few other sides can match, and it can be soul-destroying for opponents.

Scrum a concern for Les Bleus

While France‘s comprehensive victory will please coach Fabien Galthie, there are concerns about the performance of the starting pack, particularly the front-row. Without star loosehead prop Cyril Baille, Jean-Baptiste Gros was expected to be a capable replacement. However, his scrummaging abilities were not evident in the match against Australia. The Wallabies, who are not known for their scrummaging prowess, were able to dominate the scrums, with Taniela Tupou and Angus Bell leading the way. Galthie and his coaching staff will demand improvement in this area before the World Cup opener.

Discipline and goal kicking cost Wallabies

The Wallabies had opportunities to narrow the gap against France but were let down by poor goal kicking and discipline. Rookie fly-half Carter Gordon missed two penalties and a conversion, leaving eight points on the field. In contrast, France‘s Thomas Ramos and Melvyn Jaminet were more accurate with their kicks. The Wallabies’ improved discipline was not enough to overcome their penalty count, which allowed France multiple kickable shots at goal. The momentum swing caused by Suliasi Vunivalu’s sin binning further hindered the Wallabies’ chances of a comeback.

Wallabies have their full-back

After Tom Wright was dropped from the squad, the Wallabies were searching for a reliable full-back. Andrew Kellaway has stepped up to fill that role and has shown composure and quality in his performances. Kellaway’s positional play, reliable boot, and intelligent running threat make him a valuable asset to the team. Despite not gaining many meters in the match against France, his vision and execution of passes demonstrated his high skill level. Alongside standout performances from Suliasi Vunivalu and Mark Nawaqanitawase, Kellaway’s class shines through.

Matthieu Jalibert stakes his claim in fine fashion

With Romain Ntamack ruled out of the Rugby World Cup, Antoine Hastoy and Matthieu Jalibert have been competing for the number 10 jersey. While Hastoy had a good showing against Fiji, Jalibert stood out in the match against Australia. Playing alongside Antoine Dupont, Jalibert topped the “metres gained” statistic with 100 in total. His ability to run, kick, and pass created problems for the Wallabies’ defense. Jalibert’s performance solidified his claim to start alongside Dupont against the All Blacks.

In conclusion, France‘s victory over Australia in their final Rugby World Cup warm-up match showcased their ruthless edge and ability to score quickly. However, concerns remain regarding France‘s scrum performance and the Wallabies’ discipline and goal kicking. The Wallabies have found their full-back in Andrew Kellaway, while Matthieu Jalibert has staked his claim for the number 10 jersey. These key takeaways will shape both teams’ preparations for the upcoming World Cup.