NICK CAIN
NOLANN Le Garrec’s spectacular 40-metre reverse pass to Thomas Ramos just after the half-hour in France’s 45-24 win over Wales last Sunday in Cardiff went viral on social media for all the right reasons.
It was a cameo of exceptional individual skill and perception by a gifted young scrum-half, whose decision to fire the ball from near the right tramline across the width of the field was as bold as it was brilliant.
A close look at the replay shows that it was a calculated decision by the 21-year-old Racing star, and it sparked a raid down the left wing which came very close to creating a try for Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
It was a pass that did not appear to take fly-half Ramos by surprise, indicating that there had been a dress rehearsal in training.
The key was that Le Garrec had put up a box-kick just before his moment of magic, and knew that it had forced the Welsh defensive line to drop back. When his kick was knocked-on by Wales, and bounced straight back into his hands, Le Garrec therefore took the calculated risk that it would not be intercepted as he gathered the ball and fired the pass in an instant.
Tommy Reffell was the only Welsh defender in sight, and was trying to pressure Ramos. However, the accuracy and length of the pass was such that it allowed the French fly-half to slide away from the Welsh flanker,
