France-Japan in Toulouse: Marchand and Ollivon decisive, Ntamack in difficulty … Discover the notes of the Blues
Impressive with the ball in hand and present on the ground, the hooker was stunning when the captain, author of a try and excellent in touch, was also at his best level. On the other hand, the match was undoubtedly more painful for the opener…
Thomas RAMOS (4/5). Impeccable under the high balls, he also managed to play his team in the advance. On foot, he was very fair, like this skimming game to find a touch in the Japanese “22”. Facing the poles, he only missed the transformation of the first try (8). 15 points scored in total.
Damien PENAUD (3.5). With two tries scored, he was an important player in the match. He also touched a lot of balls during this meeting. When he didn’t slip, he was dangerous on each of his interventions. To his credit: a clear crossing, two beaten defenders and an “off-load”.
Gael FICKOU (not rated). Injured at the start of the game, he gave up his place (16) to Macalou (3). In attack, the latter could probably have done without this kicking game to follow (35). But he was perfectly able to play the excess for Penaud’s second try (62) and applied himself in defense. Six tackles for 100% success.
Jonathan Danty (3). Used as the first point of attachment, it often made it possible to play in the advance. He also knew how to play this ball perfectly on the sidelines to offer Jelonch the last French try (74). At his rate, he was penalized for poor attacking support on the ground on Moefana.
Yoram MOEFANA (2). From the quarter of an hour of play, he swung to the center due to Fickou’s injury. A discreet first period. He got caught inside by the Nakato center on the first Japanese try (43). In defense, he gave no guarantees: five tackles, three of which were paid. Little offensive contribution as well.
Romain NTAMACK (2). With the exception of his excellent skimming game on Penaud’s try, he missed his game. A bad choice (20) of recovery in the closed which led to a loss of ball and a Japanese qualification following, a return directly in dead ball (22) and a forward on a high ball (32). The following ? Nothing much better. To top it off, he was hit in the face and was replaced by Jalibert (57) who decided on Penaud’s trials (62) and Danty’s, possibly refused on video (66).
Maxime LUCU (2.5). Good and less good. A good inspiration after a muddled touch which led to the test of Ollivon (36th). But he was also blocked on a kick behind a ruck (5), kicked a game too long (24) and did not ensure the continuity of the game due to a bad transmission which annihilated a long breakthrough from Alldritt (18). In the second period, he again missed a foot game, directly in a dead ball (47). Replaced by Couilloud (70).
Grégory ALLDRITT (3). A clean game. In the first half, he set fire with a big breakthrough. In the second act, he once again signals himself by a similar action. But he was also penalized on the hour mark for a forward attack which resulted in the second Japanese try. He nevertheless caught up on the test of Jelonch after having ensured the relay of the kick to follow from Jalibert.
Charles Olivon (4). Well used in touch, where he took the trifle of four balls on his throws and two on opposing engagement, he was especially omnipresent in support of his attackers. He thus flattened the second try of the Habs after being served, inside, by Lucu (36). Big, good, beautiful Ollivon!
Anthony Jelonch (3). The Toulousain, elected man of the match during the last shock of Marseille, was a little more discreet. In the first period, he was present in support but somewhat clumsy with the ball in hand. In the second half, he unquestionably revved up and cut out, for example, the Japanese flanker Labuschagne, before scoring a good try, in support of Penaud.
Romain TAOFIFENUA (2). On Himeno’s inaugural breakthrough flush with the regrouping, he lacked vigilance. On Saito’s try in the second half, he was also too short to defend low and was soon after penalized for illegal support. Despite everything, his power in closed scrum allowed the Blues to advance in this sector of play. We expected better from him. Replaced shortly before the hour mark by Chalureau.
Cameron WOKI (2.5). As was the case in Marseille against the Boks, he was the most targeted forward in touch (5 balls). More active with the ball in hand than he was during the first two games of the tour, he nevertheless engaged in a rough forward near the Japanese in-goal, at the end of the first period. Replaced at the end of the match by Verhaeghe, for his first cape.
Uini ATONIO (3.5). Perhaps his best match with the Blues since the start of the tour. Very good in closed scrum, a sector of play where he took advantage behind him of the power of the “great Tao” and where he put his vis-à-vis to the torture, he also distinguished himself by good flush charges and, as surprising as it is, by a pass on a step which very nearly provoked a magnificent counter-attack. Replaced by Falatea (50).
Julien MARCHAND(4). He was already, after marking the Japanese defense with a hot iron, at the origin of the first try of the match flattened by Penaud. Shortly after, he scraped a first ball on the ground, then a second at the end of the first period and kept pushing the Blues forward with good charges near the groupings. The best player of the match.
Reda WARDI (3). Already a very good face at the Springboks, he once again scored points. Very present in support, strong in closed scrum and effective in defense, he was just sanctioned with a proposal for illicit support, in the first period. Substituted for Priso at the hour mark.