Five matches and 33 Blues used, a record for the Tournament since the start of Fabien Galthié's mandate.
Only three players played the entire 400 minutes, Thomas Ramos, Gaël Fickou and Damian Penaud.
The most used forward was François Cros (374 minutes), not far from also being the most consistent Blue.
Notebook.
To discover
6 Nations Ranking
Calendar and results 6 Nations
THE BEFORE
Baille 5
(5 times rated): The left pillar of the Blues played in all the matches of the Tournament.
Solid in melee and valuable in combat, he on the other hand showed less influence in the game, which was previously his great strength.
Big game in Cardiff.
Wardi (not rated)
: Entered as a substitute during the rout against the Irish, the left-hander from Stade Rochelais suffered a broken wrist and his Tournament ended there.
S. Taofifenua (not rated)
: Recalled to the French team for the first time since 2018, the LOU pillar continued the matches in the absence of Wardi.
Solid in conquest, more discreet in the game.
Mauvaka 4
(3): Holder during the first three matches of the Tournament, the Toulouse hooker did not have the slaughter and explosiveness that he had during the last World Cup.
Regained his role as Julien Marchand's understudy during the last two matches.
Very big entry into play against the English.
Marchand 6.5
(2): The usual number 2 of the Blues was injured during the last World Cup and he needed time to return to his best level.
Substitute during the first three matches, he stood out for his return as a starter, against the Welsh and the English.
Still as tough as ever and rough in combat zones.
Stade Toulousain hooker Julien Marchand tackling English winger Elliot Daly on Saturday evening during the Crunch.
OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP
Atonio 5
(5): The right-hander from Stade Rochelais has no equivalent in the French team, of which he is one of the executives.
Considered one of the best in the world in his position.
Coming out of his international retirement, he still did enormous damage in closed scrums.
Useful in percussion to fix opposing defenses.
Inside in Scotland, on the other hand, he was monstrous against Wales.
He will be 34 at the end of March and his international future is uncertain.
But it will be difficult to replace.
Aldegheri (not rated)
: The right pillar of Stade Toulousain took advantage of the absence of Sipili Falatea (hit in the knee) to be a substitute during the first three matches, those where France suffered the most.
Solid on the fundamentals but rather discreet.
Colombe (not rated)
: Launched into the international deep end, the right-hander from La Rochelle was one of the great revelations of this Tournament.
Powerful and solid, the player trained at Racing 92 stood out during his returns during the last two matches, even scoring – in force – his first try in blue against the XV du Poireau.
Promising?
The colossus of Stade Rochelais, Georges-Henri Colombe.
ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP
Gabrillagues 5
(2): Recalled to the French team for the first time since the quarter-final lost at the 2019 World Cup, the emblematic second row of Stade Français Paris delivered two full matches, in difficult conditions against the Irish and the Scots.
Strong warrior, strong shadow worker.
Then disappeared from the group with the arrivals of Tuilagi and Maefou.
Tuilagi 5.5
(1): The Perpignan phenomenon has made a more than promising debut in blue.
Substitute during the first two matches, he honored his first start against Italy in a complicated match, he still managed to show his power.
To be seen again very soon.
R. Taofifenua (not rated)
: Absent during the first days of this edition, the solid second row of LOU then found his designated place as “finisher”, bringing all his density, notably against the Welsh in Cardiff.
Also coming out of his international retirement, he is one of the fathers of this French group.
Also read: Romain Taofifenua at Le Figaro: “There is no post-World Cup trauma”
Woki 4
(2): The Racing 92 player is going through a complicated pass.
Already in difficulty before the World Cup, he is struggling to regain his best level.
Two rather disappointing outings against Scotland and Italy, before disappearing from circulation and falling down the hierarchy of the second lines.
Big loser of this Tournament.
Roumat (not rated):
Finally launched in the French team, the versatile second or third row scored points in each of his four entries (he just missed Ireland).
Valuable in the air, dynamic, he offers the staff several solutions off the bench.
Precious.
The Toulouse resident Alexandre Roumat.
JEFF PACHOUD / AFP
Willemse 2
(1): His red card against Ireland immediately broke his momentum, as he found a place in blue.
Second French player to receive two red cards in the French team, after Mohamed Haouas.
The arrival of other heavyweight second lines (Meafou, Tuilagi) could seriously hamper his future with the French XV.
Flament 7
(2): His remarkable return, during the last two matches of this edition, showed to what extent he has become essential.
A complete, aerial, combative player, the Toulouse native brought his contribution to each of his returns.
Present in the fight and in the game, one of the executives of this French team.
Also read: XV of France: Emmanuel Meafou, the friendly colossus who scares
Maefou 7.5
(2)
:
For his long-awaited debut with the French team, the second row of Australian origin impressed with his incredible physical power.
Tough to evil, the Toulouse man forms with Atonio a formidable right axis in melee.
Not at all impressed for his international debut.
And his teammates and coaches repeat it: his room for improvement is enormous.
Cros 6
(5): The Stade Toulousain flanker is incredibly consistent in the blue jersey.
A real pruner in defense, poison in clearing (best total of the Tournament), he also participated in the game, notably during the last match against England.
Starting as number 8 against Italy, he struggled but was rather discreet with ball in hand.
A formidable warrior, who made up for the injury absence of Anthony Jelonch.
Read alsoSix Nations: “We must stop looking back”, insists François Cros at the time of taking stock
Ollivon 6
(5): The free electron of the third tricolor line.
Obviously present in defense and in the fight, the RC Toulon flanker is still as active on the attacking front, judicious in his support and efficient in his races.
Best try scorer for a forward in the history of the French XV, he scored one again, against the Nazionale.
The former captain of the Blues remains a (very) sure value for this team.
Abadie (not rated):
Brilliant with RC Toulon, the flanker was called up for the first time at Marcoussis and made his international debut against Italy, coming off the bench.
Appreciated by the staff, he plays in a position where the competition is surely the toughest in the French team.
Alldritt 6.5
(4): Appointed captain of the Blues in the absence of Antoine Dupont, the La Rochelle number 8 is one of the (very) strong men of the French pack.
Painful on impact, he constantly puts his team forward.
Injured against Scotland, he missed the match in Cardiff.
Targeted by the English, he did not have his usual influence during the last match.
He remains one of the leaders by example of this group.
Certainly, one of the best third center lines on the world circuit.
For several years now.
THE THREE QUARTERS
Lucu 3.5
(3 times rated): Dupont's costume was too big for his assigned understudy.
Catastrophic from the start against the Irish, the UBB scrum half, more manager than creator, never managed to let go.
The earlier and more notable entry into play of his young rival Nolann Le Garrec ended up making the obvious clear.
Maxime Lucu then regained his role as finisher for two convincing entries against the Welsh (a try scored) and England.
Less exposed to criticism (which he admits he took badly), relieved of the pressure of the holder, the bald scrum half has rediscovered what makes his strength: calming the game rather than making it excited.
Also read: XV of France: Nolann Le Garrec, the heir of Antoine Dupont
Le Garrec 7.5
(2): It was impatiently awaited.
And the 21-year-old did not disappoint.
Bold (his improbable chistera against the Welsh...) and lively, sorting the balls wisely (insisting with his forwards or launching the cavalry), endowed with a long and precise footwork to repel the pressure, the n°9 of the Racing 92 managed to hide the Dupont-dependence of the XV of France.
And that’s not a small achievement.
A permanent presence close to the ball which allowed him to score two tries in two starts, the second, against England, inevitably bringing to mind a certain Minister of the Interior...
Jalibert 4
(3): What a waste.
If his talent is undeniable, his difficulty in putting it at the service of the collective causes despair.
The decisive opener of the UBB loses his means in the blue jersey.
Lacking confidence (do the staff really believe in him?), Matthieu Jalibert attempts unnecessary moves and aborts more relevant ones.
As if he didn't know where to place the cursor between the desire to show what he's worth and the fear of overplaying.
He did not manage to break free until he injured his knee, shortly before the break, during the completely unsuccessful match against Italy.
Ramos 5.7
(5): A start to the Tournament at the back, his favorite position, where he was sometimes dominated in the air and hesitant in the restart.
But a few highlights compensate for these hesitations.
And his running game regularly relieves his partners.
Essential against the posts with almost 90% success and 63 points scored.
The best director of this Tournament (like last year, with 84 points scored however) was decisive against England.
Fickou 5.7
(5): Critical at the start of the Tournament – he himself was not satisfied with his performance against Ireland – the dean (in number of selections) of the Blues gained strength over the matches.
Regaining his strong defensive presence, initiating some long raids full of power and rage.
A multi-activity rewarded by three personal attempts, best French total of this Tournament.
Danty 2.7
(3): The powerful La Rochelle center was only a shadow of itself.
Physically worn out, morally undermined, Jonathan Danty wandered during two and a half matches.
Before committing the irreparable shortly before half-time against Italy.
Excessive commitment means a red card.
Leaving the Blues to fend for themselves in the Italian trap.
The sign of a player in difficulty, aware of his lack of contribution and seeking to compensate for it without control.
At 33, will we see him again in the blue jersey?
Depoortère 4
(2): The captain of the U20 world champions was impatiently awaited, announced as the missing link in a flagging attack.
His sharp runs, which delight the UBB, and his density in defense should invigorate the Blues.
The ace !
The 21-year-old center has never been decisive with the ball in his hands.
And made two defensive errors, against Wales then England, which cost the Blues two tries.
To be seen again in a context with less pressure so that he can finally make his mark.
UBB center and captain of U20 world champions Nicolas Depoortère.
ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP
Moefana 4
(2): He is the Swiss army knife of the French attack.
Once on the wing, once in the center (his position at UBB).
But Yoram Moefana, in the rotation for four years now, is slow to bring his presence in the ground game, his solidity in the tackles and his percussion qualities.
Never any big blunders, but never any brilliant moves either.
Gailleton and Barassi could quickly question his presence, mainly justified by the “duty of memory” dear to Fabien Galthié.
Penaud 4.5
(5): Difficult to identify the contribution of the UBB winger.
He beats defenders in packs, but with runs that don't always help the team move forward.
Lots of sideways, embarking on slaloms which above all earn him a nice artistic note.
Damian Penaud also tried a lot on his wing.
But without the success that allowed him to pile up the tests.
He scored just one during this Tournament (during the Irish rout), but provided a handful of assists.
Remains stuck two units from Serge Blanco's try record (36 against 38).
But success will return quickly.
Bielle-Biarrey 5.7
(3): The young UBB winger, revelation of the World Cup, was the savior of the Blues in Scotland by scoring the winning try.
A few full speed raids on his wing.
In difficulty, however, against England, the fault of a questionable defensive placement.
Once rested, it will regain all its strength.
Lebel 5.5
(1): The Toulouse player only played one match, against Italy.
First on the wing then at the back when the expulsion of Danty forced Galthié to reorganize his attack line.
In a failed overall performance, Matthis Lebel worked several times to put his team back in the direction of forward movement with his restarts.
He is Bielle-BIarrey's understudy in the minds of the staff but really deserves to have his chance.
Crossed out 6.25
(2): Another kid launched at Cardiff.
Where he displayed his mastery under high balls.
A few restarts against the Welsh but a little too timid.
The back of Stade Français Paris let loose more against the XV de la Rose.
Sharp relays, a decisive contact pass for Le Garrec, a personal try.
A successful copy.
It remains to be seen whether he can claim tenure status.
When Romain Ntamack returns, Thomas Ramos will find his number 15. And Léo Barré may well be asked to wait again outside of the 23 listed on the match sheet.
But it demonstrated that it was more than a remedy.