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France reach highest world rankings position in six years following victory over Wales
By Alex McLeod
Six Nations leaders France have moved into their highest position on the World Rugby men's rankings in over six years following their win over Wales on the weekend.
The 27-23 victory in Cardiff kept their undefeated run in the Six Nations alive with three wins from as many outings, and Fabien Galthié's side are in pole position for a Grand Slam title as they lie in first place with matches against Scotland in Edinburgh and Ireland in Paris remaining.
Their prior wins over England, Italy and now Wales have now been recognised by the world rankings system, as Les Bleus have been elevated to fifth place for the first time since February 2014.
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Their rise through the rankings - they started in seventh spot leading into the Six Nations - is indicative of the young French side's performances in the tournament, which they are primed to win for the first time in a decade.
Should they maintain their unbeaten status throughout the remainder of the competition, the three-time World Cup finalists would claim their first Grand Slam title in the Six Nations era, with their last undefeated run to the crown coming in the 1998 Five Nations.
Such a rich vein of form represents France's remarkable turnaround in fortunes under the guidance of Galthié, who took over as the national side's head coach from Jacques Brunel following last year's exit from the World Cup at the quarter-final stage.
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It is if he thinks he’s got hold of the ball and there is at least one other player between him and the ball carrier, which is why he has to reach around and over their heads. Not a deliberate action for me.
Go to commentsI understand, but England 30 years ago were a set piece focused kick heavy team not big on using backs.
Same as now.
South African sides from any period will have a big bunch of forwards smashing it up and a first five booting everything in their own half.
NZ until recently rarely if ever scrummed for penalties; the scrum is to attack from, broken play, not structured is what we’re after.
Same as now.
These are ways of playing very ingrained into the culture.
If you were in an English club team and were off to Fiji for a game against a club team you’d never heard of and had no footage of, how would you prepare?
For a forward dominated grind or would you assume they will throw the ball about because they are Fijian?
A Fiji way. An English way.
An Australian way depends on who you’ve scraped together that hasn’t been picked off by AFL or NRL, and that changes from generation to generation a lot of the time.
Actually, maybe that is their style. In fact, yes they have a style.
Nevermind. Fuggit I’ve typed it all out now.
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