The men’s rugby sevens team, bronze medalists in Toulouse last weekend, must do better at the penultimate stop on the world circuit on Saturday and Sunday in London, as the World Cup in Africa draws closer South (September 9-11).
In Ernest-Wallon, in front of their public, the Blues obtained their best result of the season by winning the “small” final over Samoa (17-12), thanks to three tries from Paulin Riva, Jordan Sepho and Jonathan Laugel.
“Finishing third, I think we can be satisfied with that. We deserve it. And we’re looking for even better than that. We can’t wait to get a tournament. We are not far from it”, promised one of the players of France VII, William Iraguha, after this match for the bronze medal.
It is therefore with this in mind that the French septists, sixth in the world rankings, flew to London, where they will be opposed on Saturday in the group stage to Canada (14th) then to New Zealand (11th), two teams to their scope.
Their last match of the day, against the Australian “Blitzboks”, third in the world, may however be more complicated.
Knowing that they must imperatively finish in the first two places of their group to play the quarter-finals on Sunday.
“The pool in London is going to be complicated, we are aware of that. The state of mind and the requirement are the key, it is up to us to build our game plan as best as possible and to be vigilant about our careless mistakes, ”says the coach of the Blues, Jérôme Daret.
This London tournament will then be followed by a long break for the septists, who will then only meet on August 27 and 28 in Los Angeles, for the 9th and final stage of the world circuit.
