Worrying sign that France are ready to go up another level
France look pretty intimidating with a year to go until the World Cup they are hosting, and will probably enter the tournament as favourites.
With a Grand Slam under their belts this year already, Les Bleus look more or less the complete package and could really cement their status as the dominant force in rugby when they face South Africa in November. The most worrying sign for all other nations is that their kicker, Melvyn Jaminet, showed what he is capable of this week.
The Toulouse and France fullback is the incumbent kicker in Fabien Galthie’s side, but has maybe not shown his full range so far in blue. But against Montpellier on Sunday in a top of the table Top 14 clash, the 23-year-old showed that he basically has dynamite in his right boot, nailing a penalty from about 60 metres out, and at an angle. This means that against France, who already put defences under a huge amount of pressure, teams cannot give a penalty away within 60 metres of their posts in fear of conceding three points. These are yet more worrying signs for opposing fans.
Take a look:
#TOP14
58 mètres … Melvyn Jaminet rentre une pénalité stratosphérique contre Montpellier 🔥 @MelvynJaminet @StadeToulousain pic.twitter.com/Vd20XpdNQt— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) October 4, 2022
