The most important are the two victory points. The maxim is well known in the sport. And it applies beautifully to the scenario of this opening game of the 2023 World Cup for France, victorious in the pain of the Polish hosts (26-24) in a “saucer” of hot Katowice. But eventually extinguished.

The first act, on the other hand, turned out to be erratic for the Blues who went into the match very cautiously, misplacing a few too many balls against the Poles who had also activated the “generosity” mode, in particular due to this incredible failure alone at six yards in Moryto’s counterattack. This rickety start on both sides, undoubtedly linked to the pressure of the event, resulted in a balanced game (8-8) after a good fifteen minutes of play. The moment chosen by the French to suddenly hit the accelerator against a Polish team forced to start their turnover to blow their executives. And very soon it was obvious: the bench of the Whites and Reds was not at all on the same level as the starting seven…

That resulted in a 4-0 in four minutes in favor of the visitors (8-12, 22nd). Unfortunately, this big lead didn’t last until the break, completely missing the foul in the last five minutes. Led by an excellent Szymon Sicko, Poland took the opportunity to close the gap and join the locker room on a minimalist gap of one length (13-14). A lesser evil, which The Blues would not regret now. This would continue until the last five minutes of play, with a dominant French team, but unable to find continuity in their play to really end their hosts’ hopes (21-22, 51st).

A stammering defense, then found in money-time

Fortunately, a few saves from Vincent Gérard and a rediscovered defense saved Guillaume Gille’s men from a nasty surprise in the closing stages. With this victory accounting more interesting than in the way, France can face the rest, who will put a match on the line on Saturday (6 p.m.), with more serenity.