Will anyone stop ‘massive favourites’ France in Six Nations?
Perhaps it was lost in translation, but Fabien Galthie’s statement that Grand Slam-chasing France “behaved reasonably” against Wales should be enough to strike fear into Italy, Scotland and England.
While the Welsh try as best they can to avoid a third consecutive wooden spoon, the Blues are looking for a first sweep since 2022.
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France beat Ireland in the first round and scored eight tries past Wales in front of a large traveling contingent at the Principality Stadium.
The third game of the Grand Slam bid takes place on Sunday against dangerous Italy in Lille before Scotland and England in Paris.
“We can’t stop moving forward,” Galthie said. “We are performing reasonably well but nothing is certain.
“We’re expecting a tough game against Italy so we’re still working. We had a lot of good moments against Wales but we can do better.”
In a way, what the Blues achieved in Cardiff was nothing special: Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa had already been with Steve Tandy for half a century by the autumn.
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The home side felt their performance was reasonable – and certainly better than in the first round against England – but they were still outplayed in every area.
France scored eight tries but could have done even more with an attack led by Antoine Dupont and Matthieu Jalibert totaling 28 line breaks, 31 defenders beaten, 1,136 meters carried and 24 offloads.
“When you play against a team like that you have to be good at everything,” former England and British and Irish Lions captain Martin Johnson told BBC One.
“France had no worries because they knew they were going to win, they knew they were too good.
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“They are all very comfortable with the ball. When they are confident and there is no danger, I thought ‘Thank God I’m not on that pitch’.
“It’s so hard to contain them when they’re so confident and don’t feel like anything is going to go wrong for them.”
Johnson won five Six Nations titles as a player, but only two Grand Slams. He therefore knows that potential banana skins await the Blues.
“France are the big favorites to win this tournament, everyone says how good they are,” he said.
“You have to deal with that expectation. They look great, they have huge depth, they have huge confidence right now, but you have to get them to a point where they feel pressure.”
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Former Lions captain Sam Warburton – who won a Grand Slam title and a title with Wales – believes that is easier said than done.
“France have this double-edged sword: physicality up front and the ability to play with the ball in spaces,” said the former flanker.
“They are so powerful in attack, they are so difficult to defend. France is great, I love watching France.”
This swagger provides plenty of entertainment for the French fans, who were rewarded for their long weekend in Cardiff with a thumping victory.
It was the smallest Six Nations crowd in Wales, despite an impressive traveling contingent boosting the capital’s pub coffers.
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Many will venture into Murrayfield with high expectations and a little more trepidation.
“At the end, when they were singing, it felt like we were at the Stade de France,” said star scrum-half Dupont.
“It’s amazing to feel at home when you’re playing away.”
A victory in Lille and another in Edinburgh would give France the chance to win an 11th Grand Slam against England.
Tandy is well placed to judge the qualities of France after a difficult start to his reign marked by assignments against the Pumas, the All Blacks, the Springboks and England.
“They’re in a great situation to do it, but the Six Nations is funny,” Tandy said.
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“There’s no complacency there and they play at a high level, so I don’t see why they can’t win the Grand Slam. They’re a great team.”
