The coach of the XV of France Fabien Galthié was the guest of Stade 2 this Sunday evening. He took stock of the Blues' autumn tour, who won three times in as many matches.
It was his first and last speech on the subject of the fall 2024 tour. Fabien Galthié was this Sunday evening the guest of the show Stade 2 to take stock of the three matches played by the Blues in November. With three successes against Japan, Argentina and especially New Zealand, the picture was necessarily very positive for the coach. The latter was first questioned about the prestigious success against the All Blacks. “The victory was built in a very difficult matchhe remembered. Of the three All Blacks teams that I faced with the French team, it was surely the strongest, the most balanced. The one that gave us the most trouble. The challenge was great.”
Then, during the show, he commented on the performances of the Lebrun brothers in table tennis, he returned to the career of Rafael Nadal and he said a word about the Vendée Globe. Then came the time for the interview on the fall tour and what stood out: the competition set up with “premium” players who experienced downgrades: Charles Ollivon, Grégory Alldritt, Gaël Fickou or Matthieu Jalibert : “It's not over. We will always try to build around people. They are important to us, we support them, we help them grow and we trust them. We still build around emulation. After the World Cup, there was a Tournament that came very quickly and we had little time to adjust, so we trusted our “premiums”. In the middle of the Tournament, we decided to move the lines. , which allowed us to win the last two games and get second place in the standings. We started with a very young team in Argentina and we won the tour in South America with everything that happened. had a lot of elements that allowed us to move the lines.”
Charles, when I warned him, because I warn the players in advance, he told me: “I'll be there, I'm coming.”
He then spoke specifically about the case of Charles Ollivon after watching the third row's post-match reaction. “It is above all up to the players to respond, launched the former scrum half. Charles, when I warned him, because I warn the players in advance, he told me: “I'll be there, I'm coming.” He left, he came back. He made a good start against New Zealand. Charles, you saw his interview, it is solid. He was captain for the first term. Even when he's not there, he leads by example. And when he's on the field, he's there through play.”
Then, at the request of the Blues coach, a France-Argentina action was revised: the try not granted to Emilien Gailleton. “It's a rejected try, but the last movement is Nolann Le Garrec who gives Marko Gazzotti, who finishes the work with Thomas Ramos and Emilien Gailleton. Three young players of 20 years recite a score to the letter. And behind, it's a test When we build, when we select and when we build the selection, that's why.he detailed.
Fabien Galthié then mentioned, without naming him, Matthieu Jalibert, substitute against Japan, reserve against the All Blacks before declining, then out of the 42 for the match against the Pumas: “Nothing prevents us from moving the lines for emulation. We have a very efficient staff with very strong skills. If we decide to play a player in 10, it is because we have been thinking about it for a very long time These are thoughts made in advance If a player does not accept it, nothing prevents him from coming. They are employees of the French team, it's the icing on the cake. , the grail So they can. decide whether to come or not.”
Sometimes we have neglected this support, which revolves around the question: how do we get back to normal?
2024, a difficult year for the Blues, between sometimes lackluster sporting performances, extra-sporting concerns in Argentina or the Matthieu Jalibert imbroglio? The former Toulon coach refuted this idea. “Since I have been coach of the French XV, there has not been a year that has not been complicated, he said. The Tournament was difficult, but we finished second. The tour in Argentina also had a news item that disrupted us, but we won. This November tour, we were able to string together three wins out of three matches. We end this year with two defeats in eleven games, so that's more than 80% victories despite a difficult environment, a team with doubts and the complexity of this level.”
Finally, the last question focused on Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradoustill accused of aggravated rape in Argentina even though they currently play in the Top 14 with their respective clubs. “We must stand up already. Stay the course and support all the players, whether those who were to play in Uruguay or those who were presumed guilty. Support the clubs which were also affected, as well as the entire ecosystem of French rugby. We prepared our return with the institutions to try to better prepare the players for the high level. The players need to be supported in preparing for a match but also in recovery. Sometimes, we neglected this support, which turns around. around the question: how we come back to normal? We prepare to overthrow mountains, to be afraid of no one. But when the match stops, we have to stop so we return to real life. let's do with the players, the coaches and with French rugby”concluded Fabien Galthié. See you in 2025 now.
