France rugby team aerial battle against Fiji, Digi Mart USA News: Fabien Galthié once complained that Fiji is undervalued despite being capable of beating any European team, a point France itself learned in 2018. According to the publisher’s report, Fiji has long been a side that wins with a variety of approaches, not only open play.
Attack coach Patrick Arlettaz said that winning does not require constant wide running and that collective combat and set-piece strategy matter. He added that teams must be smart enough to use the approach that works best against their opponent.
The report says France’s scrum may be under pressure because hooker Julien Marchand and lock Emmanuel Meafou are absent through injury. For that reason, the publisher suggests France could focus its effort in the air, where Florian Verhaeghe and Cameron Woki give France two strong options at the lineout.
The article also points to France’s aerial contests after Antoine Dupont and Maxime Lucu’s box kicks, which it describes as a strategic area where Fiji has historically shown less interest. Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang and Théo Attissogbé are named as players who could help France play high and win ball in Fiji’s half.
