Fabien Galthié during his press conference on Wednesday at Stade Charlety. AFP / FRANCK FIFE
MOOD – For his first speech after the elimination against the Springboks, the coach made no self-criticism or questioning. Move along, there’s nothing to see !
The shock of this brutal elimination of the Blues in the quarter-finals of “their” World Cup by South Africa (29-28) is still very present. First playoff match, this way, the exit. From the first meeting which does not count for butter. Many were waiting for explanations, justifications to return to this monumental hiccup. We had to wait 24 days – and at the insistence of journalists – for Fabien Galthié to deign to give his point of view, more substantiated than the post-match press conference and this cryptic “it came down to a point…» released hotly at the Stade de France.
Questioned, mea culpa, after the tactical lesson in realism inflicted by the Boks? Nothing of the sort. The coach remained straight in his boots, sure of himself and his method, which however did not work. “On a tactical and strategic level, if I had to do it again, I would do the same thing, absolutely the same”, he said without batting an eyelid. Rassie Erasmus however…
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