The “scenario” moment. At the end of each high-intensity session, Fabien Galthié offers his players a sequence likely to be reproduced in a match. A framework to negotiate with fatigue and, of course, a team composition profoundly reworked by coaching. The ingredients of (almost) reality.
Four days before the clash against the All Blacks, Saturday (9:10 p.m.) at the Stade de France, the coach projected them into the following context: France leads by one point (21-20), the clock shows 77 minutes and 30 seconds, the dismissal is for the benefit of the New Zealanders… Peato Mauvaka plays in number 8 and Antoine Dupont is back at the opening to be associated with Nolann Le at the hinge Garrec.
Science fiction? Absolutely not. Since the Blues staff decided to opt for a 6-2 on the bench, in which Nolann Le Garrec and Émilien Gailleton should have the mission of covering the back lines, and since Fabien Galthié released Matthieu Jalibert on Wednesday afternoon , the Blues scrum half is now the second priority solution in 10 if Thomas Ramos were to leave the field prematurely or return to his preferred position at the back.
Jalibert downgraded
Stating such an observation obviously amounts to sadistically pulling on the optical nerves of the most loyal supporters of Matthieu Jalibert, whose morale has necessarily been tested by this choice, inexorably downgraded in the coach's hierarchy. Rather than calling on the fittest opener in the Top 14 at the start of the season, Fabien Galthié therefore decided to probe his captain's ability to adapt.
Far-fetched? Depending on whether you ask this question in the capital of Nouvelle-Aquitaine or in Toulouse, the answer could be different. If he has never been required to play in 10 at international level, we will probably remember in Occitania that Antoine Dupont played this position several times – with some success – during high-stakes matches under the Stade jersey. Toulouse.
Last March, against UBB, his repositioning at the opening inspired his club manager, Ugo Mola, to make the following comment: “I like it when people explain to me that it’s the best 9, but he's not bad at 10 either. » A position for which, it must be remembered, he was trained before settling behind the scrum.
“I’m not worried”
Despite his immense talent, isn't the choice risky before taking on the All Blacks? “It’s true that he very rarely plays 10,” says center Gaël Fickou. “But he’s an excellent defender with a very good kicking game. It's complete, I'm not worried about that. The adaptation to have is to defend well together, to have the maximum connections in training to be good in matches. Honestly, he has the qualities to play in all positions. »
A versatility that the staff intends to exploit. “We are lucky to have great players,” observes William Servat, in charge of the forwards. And when you have good players, it's always nice to have them on the pitch, whatever the position. ” Either.
At this point, you may be wondering what the outcome of the scenario presented in the introduction was? France preserved its advantage on the wire. But that was only down to a penalty of almost 50 meters missed by Matthieu Jalibert.
