The Blues did not succeed in their bet. After their fine victory in the quarter-finals of the Toulouse tournament on Saturday evening against Australia (21-19), they fell heavily from their cloud in the semis against Ireland (24-7), who had already deprived them of a ticket for the Tokyo Olympics last year, during the TQO in Monaco.

Terry Kennedy scored the first try of the game, quickly imitated by his teammate Mark Roche, after a misunderstanding between Joachim Trouabal and Aaron Grandidier. Nisie Huyard scored after a long run in the middle to revive the Blues before the break (12-7).

3rd place still possible

Sanctioned with a yellow card for a voluntary forward, Jonathan Laugel left his partners at six for two minutes and Ireland in one advantage. Kennedy spun in the in-goal and gave a significant advantage to his selection (17-7). Andrew Smith even increased the score after yet another ball lost by the France team, which was too imprecise.

” We are very disappointedlamented Pierre Mignot. We are not far at half-time despite a difficult first period. But in the second, they caught us in the counter-rucks, it does not forgive 7: a lost ball, a try. We’re disappointed, because half a house against Ireland, a team against which we’ve never lost this year, that’s cool… Congratulations to them, they had a great game. I have the impression that even if we are not far behind, there was no match. It’s up to us to get up to get a third place and a medal. »

At the end of the match, Esteban Capilla, frustrated, was guilty of a gesture of humor as stupid as inappropriate. “At the end, we get a little angry, but it remained good-natured and it didn’t go too wronga Mignot developer. We are caught up in our own game, in the fight, and with us, it’s difficult. » The Blues will try to obtain 3rd place in the tournament at 5:29 p.m. They will face Samoa in the small final, defeated by Fiji in the semi-finals (28-7).