Simple structure allows France to create their own luck

France away at Wales, was a classic game, with tension and strong scores. It shows the development of Pivac’s game plan is still very much in the beta phase, however whilst the welsh side failed to fire, France created and took opportunities.

The key part of any attack is how it starts. Without a beginning it’s very difficult to set a structure and as a result see the brilliant minds of an attack coach at work. In this case, we start with a France kick off having just gone 3 points down to a Biggar penalty.

France kicked off long, a common strategy with the aim of pinning back of an opponent. France however, has a specific strategy from this kick off. As is normal Wales, have a specific formation for their pods and players depending on French alignment, this means that every player knows the position of the other and the drill is repeatable and efficient. However, France have also planned for this.

To combat a simple kick to touch, Ntamack kicks it with a deliberate hang time. The key is the balls target rather than just an initial tackle. By targeting Dan Biggar, it means that he will be forced to take contact and removes a key kicker for Wales. This effect is then rounded off with the use of 3 backs focussed on Biggar. Dupont runs and leads the line on the right shoulder of Biggar, cutting off his outside passing options, whilst Vincent targets Biggar directly.

This initial positioning from France is key in dictating the game to Wales and allowing France to control the next passages of play. They then target Biggar again on the third phase, with Dupont playing in a similar role to Gareth Davies under Edwards and focus blitzing on Biggar at first receiver.

The quick line speed is enough to dissuade Biggar from risking a kick or the pass. France’s clarity has a clear effect and by forcing Dan Biggar to contact, they’ve removed the Fly Half as a kicking threat on 2 of the 3 phases, an effect exacerbated given that the second phase took on a positional role rather than being a major attack or progression threat.

Wales do eventually clear with Gareth Davies, the box kick landing just on the edge of the 15m. This means that Wales have an easier role of defending the entire pitch however, Alldritt wraps around and crashes the ball straight in to the Wales line. The French 8 targets the space between two welsh defenders forcing a double tackle aiming to contact the line.

Following this double tackle, Wales then make a clear decision and begin targetting the ruck. This drags in 4 players (the double tackle and 2 ruck challengers), automatically tightening the defence. This causes a problem on the next phase as Faletau has to step across to the guard position and ends up slightly behind the ruck before having to realign.

As such France can then target and exploit the Welsh blindside flank with North outside 2 tight 5 forwards. The space is then wonderfully exploited by the French who strike wide with Bouthier playing a key role at first receiver.

Firstly, Francois Cros, helps focus the inside welsh defenders allowing Bouthier to fade round and target the inside shoulder of AWJ and pass directly to Fickou out wide who burns North and allows Vincent to get a touch on the inside from a simple offload.

The simplicity will of course worry Wales in how they were exposed, but the French should equally be as pleased with how they created the opportunity. A simple structure built to expose the edge with a deep runner and then the hard work on the inside to create an opportunity.

This work is no more clearly exemplified than in Bouthier. The full back arrives and plays from Scrum Half allowing Du Pont to hover toward the next ruck as France begin to set a structure. This fluidity of roles and not forcing everything from a designated player allows France to keep Wales moving backward and simply allows the French to settle.

Playing the time forward, France begin to really set the sturucutre and work side to side with the ball. By trying to find the dege it allows gaps to appear in the centre of the defence and holes to be exposed when they cut back.

By running a simple double layer of attack with forwards offering screens and additional passing options to Fickou. France are able to create a focus point, where Wales are adopting a use a double tackle focusing on shutting the ball off from exposing the wide channel. Josh Adams having to rush up to well inside the 15m tramlines to shut off the move.

However, France then switched direction rather than working to the width with a simple one pass strategy becoming clear. However this leaves Le Roux exposed as while he breaks the first tackle, the ball ends facing towards Faletau  rather than his supporting players. This enables Faletau to win a turnover.

France are forced into scramble mode but show their intent immediately. Rather than allowing Pivac’s favoured two pass from turnover, Ntmack shoots from his position on the wing focusing on the man and ball tackle. This all comes from being able to slow down the ball at the previous ruck.

Pivacs favoured 2 pass strategery requires quick ball to work aiming to find the exposed edge of a defence. But instead, Wales are slowed and France have been able to drop back a number of key players while remaining defensive integrity.

This time when Alldritt receives the ball he arcs his run, bending first out and then in back towards the 15m channel. Whilst this might seem like allowing an easier defence of a full field. It instead serves to create a one on one tackle that Alldritt can dominate as he aims to create momentum from France who have players returning from the previous passage of play.

This all serves to set a platform with the next attack with France’s players reforming quickly into 3 distinct sections. The majority of the backs including Thomas and Vakatawa are able to hover out wide. Then the forwards returning are either formed into the attack structure whilst others angle into the breakdown.

The attack structure is a simple pod of 3 off Dupont, with France having to commit a high number of players to the previous ruck. In response Wales rush up with a double tackle from Ken Owens and Alun Wyn Jones focusing on the ball. However, this leads to a tackle with high body heights allowing Le Roux and Haouascan to drive drive through and split the tackle and push Willemse through the contact, forcing Wales to take a step back whilst also preventing an easier fold.

France then struck from this relatively simple set up. With Wales having a numerical advantage (in the competition area around the kick) it should be an easy win for the Welsh. But they tighten their blocking V formation with Adams drifting to shut the door on whilst leaving Thomas a free angle to challenge. Thomas, then despite being lower turns his body and able to just disrupt the ball, literally making France’s ‘luck’.

In truth then while Bouthier’s try seems to come from a simple welsh error, it instead comes from a simple exploitation of space built off the use of a simplified structure exposing Welsh weaknesses.

Firstly, the French kick off removes Biggar as a kicking threat. This dictation of play is effective and stops Wales defaulting and settling after a score. Following this Alldritt turns the screw by dragging the defensive wall and opening a wider blindside.

Wales of course are not entirely absolved from blame targeting the ball and allowing France to drift wider. But the French of Bouthier to create and then crucially exploit an opportunity is key. And while the play does break down it’s clear France are building pressure.

Then from the turnover France believe in their work rate and rely on the speed and defence to expose Wales. This ratcheting I’d pressure creates the perfect conditions for a poor kick and as such allows France a solid base to attack from.

Then France settle immediately with a simple structure before realising the ball id slower than ideal and target space not bodies in an attempt to gain momentum. The Welsh escorts obviously make a mistake in allowing Thomas to challenge.

But this try isn’t about an error strewn team in red but an effective simple Les Bleus. Who created and then converted the opportunity.