The twelve-year wait is finally over for Les Blues

On Saturday in front of a feverish home crowd, France beat England 25-13 to lift their first Six Nations and Grand Slam title for twelve years.

Nobody in the world of rugby can deny that the best side fully deserved to be crowned champions after a professional performance in all five of their matches.

In the past, the question on everybody’s lips before any major tournament has always been, what French side will turn up. After this Six Nations tournament, the question has been fully answered by the men in Blue.

The coaching team headed by Fabien Galthie, have previously overseen two near misses in second place in 2020- narrowly missing out when England edged them on points difference.

Les Blues also have a backroom staff of team manager Raphael Ibanez, scrum coach William Servat and defence coach Shaun Edwards along with attack coach Laurent Labit and line out coach Karim Ghezal, all of which have brought solid experience to this French side.

Together, this set of characters have turned the fortunes of French rugby around when France finished in the bottom half of the six nations in seven years out of eight from 2012-19.

Not only do France have the best player in world rugby at the moment in scrum-half Antoine Dupont, but they also possess one of the best fly half’s in the world in Romain Ntamack. In joint top try scorer of the tournament, they have a wonderful player in Damian Penaud along with the outstanding centre Gael Fickou.

France’s heavy pack has benefited with hooker Julien Marchand in outstanding form and second-rower Cameron Woki who won 24 lineouts for the men in Blue. He is happy playing in the back row as well as second-row and possesses a huge engine.

I could probably name at least a dozen French players who are worthy candidates for player of the tournament. We mustn’t forget Gregory Alldritt who made 65 carries in the six nations along with six turnovers and seven off-loads. He surely is the complete package.

This French team have been building up to their present high level of performances boosted by their excellent 40-25 victory over the All Blacks back in November. The rugby world started to believe that this group of players look to have the capabilities to be a major force in rugby.

Just eighteen months before a home World Cup, the boys in Blue have already sent a statement out to the rugby world that they will be the team to beat in next year’s World Cup.

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