Rugby World Cup: the Blues newspaper, the phrase of the day, the number

After a final training session at the Rueil-Malmaison base camp on Sunday morning, the French XV took the train in the afternoon towards Aix-en-Provence where they will stay until the beginning of October.

The Blues will play their third group match against Namibia on Thursday evening (9 p.m.) at the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille. Coach Fabien Galthié will announce the composition of the French team on Tuesday noon but the first trends emerged from the game of the bibs carried out yesterday. The returning Cyril Baille and Jonathan Danty could notably start the meeting.

“My choice of the best captain I have met will perhaps raise more than one eyebrow, but what a captain Dusautoir was! Throughout his career he has always put his body on the line. Remember the 38 tackles he made when France knocked the All Blacks out of the 2007 World Cup, he led by example and he understood the game very well. This praise for Thierry Dusautoir is from Nigel Owens, historic Welsh referee at 4 World Cups and 100 international matches officiated. Questioned by Wales Online, the now retired official (since 2020) places the best player of the year 2011 at the top of the hierarchy of selection captains ahead of Richie McCaw (New Zealand), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland) and Jean de Villiers (South Africa). Just that.

Victorious over Tonga (59-16) on Saturday evening after its opening defeat against Romania (82-8), Ireland scored more than 50 points in two consecutive World Cup matches for the first time in its history . A good omen for the new top scorer of the selection Jonathan Sexton and his teammates, before challenging the South African world champions for a shock at the top next Saturday (9 p.m.) at the Stade de France.

Lima Sapoaga’s cry for help. “Would whoever took my field goal tee give it back to me? I'll even pay you for it. I've had it since I was 14,” tweeted Samoa's number 10 on Saturday evening, following the victory against Chile (43-10). The former All Black lost his tee (small base where the ball is placed during a kick) on the lawn of Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux. “I had left my eye drops aside, I came to collect everything and there were only drops left.” he added in another message. We hope that his favorite object will be found safe and sound before Manu Samoa's 2nd match against Argentina, next Friday in Saint-Étienne.

Rugby: why is the thistle (which helped repel the invader) the emblem of Scotland?