After a sluggish first half, the young Blues let go after the break to win widely (36-5) against a more experienced Italy, with five scored tries. The XV of France will challenge England in the final next Sunday at Twickenham.
These kids have nothing to envy their elders. Despite a team composed largely of players who discovered the international level this Saturday and at the same time honored their very first selection, the Blues surfed on their very good dynamic of the year to outclass Italy (36-5) in a Stade de France behind closed doors and sign a full card in this group phase of this first edition of the Autumn Nations Cup, completed with three victories in as many matches and in first place in his group by this decidedly XV of France as attractive with its holders as its replacements.
For the men of Fabien Galthié, who are now six victories in their seven games played in 2020, the light has however waited for the second half to spring out and dazzle Italians who are certainly more experienced but carried away after the break by the wave of freshness and adverse spontaneity. After a sluggish first period probably due to the very strange atmosphere in which this last meeting took place, which began with a vibrant tribute to the already regretted Christophe Dominici, found dead last Tuesday in the Parc de Saint-Cloud, this XV of France bis brutally evacuated all the tension for some, the fear of doing wrong for others and certainly the sadness for all.
And now England!
The Blues then found all their going from the last outings. Jonathan Danty was the only one to go to lady in the first half (35th), while the Italians were leading, for the only time of the evening. He was quickly joined on the return from the locker room on the list of French test scorers for this match by four of his teammates. In turn, the rocket Gabin Villière, Baptiste Serin, for his sixth test under the swimsuit struck by the rooster, Teddy Thomas, competing in speed with the young hope of the RCT passed from 7 to 15, and Sekou Macalou, just to complete this news show of strength in style, took advantage of the emerging automatisms to have fun with the Squadra Azzurra, offensive bonus to the key for Brice Dulin, elected man of the match for his return to Blue, and his teammates. It was well worth a final, as hard as it will be, next Sunday against the vice-world champion English on his lawn at Twickenham.
AUTUMN NATIONS CUP 2020
From November 13 to December 6, 2020
Group B
1- France 14 points
2- Scotland 6
3- Italy 5
4- Fiji 0
Saturday 14 November
Italy – Scotland : 17-28
Sunday November 15th
France – Fiji: winner on the green carpet (28-0)
Saturday November 21
Italy – Fiji: match canceled due to coronavirus
Sunday 22 November (in Edinburgh)
Scotland – France : 15-22
Saturday November 28
Scotland – Fiji: match canceled due to coronavirus
France – Italy: 36-5
>>> Each team plays three group matches, then a fourth match against the team with the same classification in the other group, in order to determine the final Top 8.
RANKING MATCHES
Saturday 5 December
1:00 p.m. in Edinburgh: Georgia – Fiji
3:15 p.m. in Dublin: Ireland – Scotland
5:45 p.m. in Llanelli: Wales – Italy
FINAL
Sunday 6 December
3:00 p.m. in London: England – France
