At the Stade de France,
It was too much for some, but we won’t go too far in saying that the players of the XV of France will finally feel even more confident for the big challenge that awaits them in less than two weeks against New Zealand after this fourth warm-up match played on Sunday evening. The big victory against Australia (41-17) won at the Stade de France by the team which should start the World Cup was a nice dress rehearsal, with in particular an exciting second period and a public which took its marks for the D-Day.
“It was good to finish in this way in front of our supporters, in this stadium, these two months of preparation, appreciates Charles Ollivon. It was intense, tough, it’s a good thing to end on this note, even if everything was not perfect. It lacked a bit of energy, and we saw some slag. “The third line of the Blues refers to a somewhat chaotic first half hour, punctuated by missed game launches, air holes in defense and indiscipline, punished by an avoidable try from Nawaqanitawase.
A constant, all the same, in this preparation, which will have seen the French collect 25, 27 and twice 17 points. “It’s a big point for improvement, recognizes Fabien Galthié without batting an eyelid. To take tries, you have to give the opponent solutions, options. We can see that we made mistakes, that we got into trouble. »
A tangible rise in power
However, the overall impression remains very positive. Faced with Australians, it is true, in the hollow of the wave, the four tries scored (Danty, Penaud x2, Villière) and the skill at the foot of Thomas Ramos spread out the panoply of this team, between physical power, game at the first-rate hand and individual talent. “In these last two games [avec celui des Fidji, remporté 34-17], we end up with a slightly wide score and more accomplished things in the game, believes Ramos. Now, physically, we are ready. »
The work of the last eight busy weeks, since the first day of the internship in Monaco, has brought the Blues where they wanted to be before polishing the final details from next Saturday at the base camp of Rueil-Malmaison. “We felt it there, we are able to chain efforts, long distances, and it shows in our game, observes opener Matthieu Jalibert. We find more and more things that we work on in training and that we are able to do in matches, that’s a good sign. “We have made significant progress over the past month,” says center Jonathan Danty, who played the Wallabies on Sunday.
“It’s only when the competition starts that we know”
To top it all off, there were no sores to report after this encounter. The staff must breathe, after the last days marked by the debates on the harshness of the preparation, the package of Romain Ntamack and the injury of Cyril Baille. “Relief is a big word but it’s positive not to have any breakage, that’s for sure, notes Ollivon. Injury is a risk, but we give everything, every day. In any case, it feels good in the head to say that we passed that. Because we all want to be part of the adventure. »
The group of 33 will now have a few welcome days of rest before plunging headlong into this competition at home, the ultimate goal of this generation that has been cornered for three and a half years by Fabien Galthié. “Everyone is aware of what is at stake, we all want to do something big at this World Cup, that’s what we’re here for”, says his head of gondola, Antoine Dupont. The three victories in a row since the hitch in Scotland at the beginning of August with the B team and the palpable feeling of increasing power constitute a solid foundation, but not a guarantee. Fabien Galthié reminded everyone before next week’s little break:
We put in place, with the staff and the players, the best possible preparation, with the choice of places, the choice of rhythm, the choice of matches, the choice of hotels… We tried to anticipate everything we could, to leave nothing to chance. But we cannot compare what we have just done there with what we aim to do against the New Zealanders on September 8. We are going to switch to another universe, another psychological commitment, another physical commitment. It will be a whole different universe. It’s only when the competition starts that we know. »
In any case, no question of underestimating the All Blacks despite their explosion in flight on Friday evening against South Africa (historic defeat 35 to 7). “Since rugby has existed, it’s been the best team in the world. So on September 8, we will have the best team in the world in front of us, ”says the coach, followed in chorus by all the players in the mixed zone. “Don’t worry about them,” sums up Charles Ollivon. Everyone knows the quality of this legendary team, they will be ready, that’s for sure. “The Blues are looking forward to it. They are not the only ones.