A warm welcome but a focused and unreceptive Fiji team. This is a bit how we can summarize the public training which took place this Thursday at the Jules Ladoumègue stadium in Lormont, in preparation for the Rugby World Cup. The Palmier team had established its base camp in the Bordeaux metropolis since September 2 and was housed in a Bordeaux hotel, in the Bordeaux Maritime district. A training session open to the public had already been canceled and that of this Thursday was maintained in extremis, before their departure from the Bordeaux area scheduled for Friday evening.
The tension is palpable within the team, which displayed rather closed expressions, as it plays a decisive match against Portugal on Sunday. It’s time to concentrate in this high-stakes World Cup context. The use of smartphones in the stadium was only authorized for fifteen minutes, the preparation strategy having to remain confidential.
“Focused” players
Small flag in hand, the children from schools and colleges invited for the event were very proud to be there and made their voices heard. Some sang the team anthem before entering under a guard of honor from the players, who remained rather stoic. Not indifference, say those who are used to following the team, but a certain “modesty”. Joëlle, 67, is from Lormont and has “followed the Fiji team since the beginning” and considers this nervousness of the team “normal”. “They are focused because the stakes are high for them,” says Jonathan. In the islands, they are very reserved. »
Jontelle, originally from New Zealand, feels a somewhat special emotion watching this team from the stadium corridor. “It touches me that they are there,” she confides. I have a bit of a connection with them, as they live on a peaceful island close to where I live. » For her, the team’s reserve comes down to shyness: “They don’t realize that they are stars. » If she is there, it is above all to “support them before their last group match, hoping that they go to the end”.
“They can spring a surprise against Portugal,” assures Jonathan, who counts Fiji among his three favorite teams along with France and New Zealand. The only disappointment was that he thought he would see a haka at the start of the match but this little show did not take place. Concentrated, we tell you.