CARDIFF (United Kingdom) – EIGHTY MINUTES: France, victorious over Wales 13-9 in Cardiff on Friday evening during the fourth day of the 2022 Six Nations tournament, is only 80 minutes away from the Grand Slam she has been running since 2010.

To do so, the Blues, author of the match’s only attempt by third line Anthony Zelonch, must beat England on the final day at the Stade de France, which meets Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.

Until the end, while a Welsh effort would have changed the game, the defense continued. By the end, the hubs were inflexible.

This is France’s seventh consecutive win and is approaching its best ever series, a series of eight successes, achieved in 2004.

And yet in this meeting everything was like a trap match.

First, because France was – still is – the only team still unbeaten in this 2022 edition of the tournament to remain unbeaten on three consecutive victories against Leech’s XV, defending champions, but handicapped by multiple absences this year.

Then because the Welsh won nine of their last ten meetings at their Millennium Stadium. It is true that their only defeat was in 2020… against France.

And we really believed that depriving his share of his winger Damien Penaud affected by Covid-19 before flying to Cardiff would close the trap on these Blues, as the second half was tense.

– To kick –

As usual – since the start of the tournament, 20% of the points scored by the Blues are scored in the first ten minutes – France’s XV fought hard from the start, with an attempt by Anthony Gelonch in the third line from the 9th minute.

After a surplus, Gersois moved himself into the wing, well served by Gabin Villier and in an ideal position to level off his second try, followed by the first day against Italy, and from the start. The Blues’ 14th. competition.

The first half was punctuated by several exchanges of kicks between the French and Welsh rear, and this short play of “I send you, you send me the ball back” made the Welsh and the French alike.

In a Millennium Stadium that was not filled, with open roofs and in dry weather taking up no more than 10,000 seats, the two teams played a very physical match, in an electric environment, the Welsh choir opposite “Wales, Wales”. Announced for “Marseilles” and “Alles les Bleus” to many French audiences.

Leek XV “makes very few mistakes, it is a team that gives very few resources to the opponent. Conversely, the Welsh take advantage of the slightest flaws as soon as we open up, they score points and score faster.” manage to do,” warned Antoine DuPont on Thursday.

Knowing that with a metronome like Dan Bigger on the Welsh side, the slightest mistake is paid in cash, discipline was one of the keys to the match.

Fortunately, Blues striker, Melvin Jaminate, if he was particularly troubled by the wind at Murrayfield, was impeccable in the reception of many candles and in his kicks, even if he missed the final penalty in the 77th to a little bit to the French supporters. given relief.

During the second period, the Welsh tried everything, multiplying the offenders, but did not manage to shake the blues.

Until the last minute, the hermetic, solid French defense showed its seriousness, its desire to win. The Grand Slam is no longer a dream, it is very close.