XV of France – The bonus for patience for Romain Buros, starter with the Blues against New Zealand

On June 20, 2021, with several high-level performances with the Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Romain Buros was called for the first time by Fabien Galthié, to participate in the XV of France tour to Australia. A little surprise which demonstrated the level of the rear, which had become indisputable in a UBB team which continued to gain ground. During the following three years, although regularly called up by the coach, Buros almost always remained on the list of players left out midweek. Dominated in the rear hierarchy by Brice Dulin, Melvyn Jaminet and even Thomas Ramos, the former Palois often took the train on Wednesdays to return to Bordeaux. “Training at 42 is the central point of Fabien’s mandate (Galthié) since 2020 and this is what has enabled a lot of performance, poses Karim Ghezal, former member of the Blues staff, who knew Romain Buros. As the trademark of the French team is to do a lot of 6-2s on the bench, it is necessarily more complicated at the three-quarter level for those who are not the starters. There is only one scrum half and one versatile three-quarter player among the substitutes. Even if this is the strong point of the French XV, this means that many players come and go, like Romain Buros. He never had the chance to play but that was more linked to the format than to his qualities.

Two tours, no minutes of play

As ungrateful as it may be, the Bordelo-Béglais has rarely – if not never – been in the discussion for number 15 with the rooster jersey. He was even positioned on the wing to serve as a “sparring partner” during the famous high-intensity training sessions. Proof that the competition was more than tough behind. “To get to know the staff a little, it's one of the most exposed positions, like that of goalkeeper in football, explains Ghezal. The slightest mistake can be costly because he is the last defender. You have to have a mind of steel. Look for example at Thomas Ramos, he was first a substitute, especially during the 2022 grand slam!”

Buros was able to test his mentality, notably during tours in Australia (2021) and Japan (2022). Twice, he traveled the world with the Blues without being allowed a single minute of play. “For the first, I was coming off a long season of thirty games, we had just lost a semi-final with UBB and I was in a “bad mood”, remembers the person concerned. I think it was a disservice to me. This is where Fabien Galthié launched Melvyn Jaminet, who was very successful, particularly in the kicking game. I moved back in the hierarchy. The following summer, in Japan, Max Spring was the holder of the position but in hindsight, I realize that I was not yet at the level. I wasn't going all out in training. Behind that, I got confused. I absolutely wanted to do well, I was extremely demanding but I had lost the notion of pleasure. He came back in recent months.”

Tani Villi experienced the same misadventure as Buros during the two summer tours. The two players, who became friends over time, supported each other so as not to store up too much frustration and thus lose track. “We talked about it a lot, we laughed about it, testifies the center. We were in the same situation and disgusted not to have tasted the Blues jersey. In Australia, we were the only two players on the tour who didn't play… I know 'Bubu' and it was frustrating for him. In France, there is a certain game plan and maybe we didn't find ourselves in it at that time.”

Continuing his efforts despite his unfulfilled blue dream, Buros definitely exploded with UBB, displaying flamboyant form and helping the club regularly qualify for the finals. He is one of the main architects of the club's superb season in 2023-24, ending with a Top 14 final to forget against Stade Toulouse. “The fact that we got to the final last year may have also prevented him from participating in a summer tour with the XV of France,” remarks Yannick Bru, the manager of UBB. But it was perhaps at the most unexpected moment that Buros finally got his chance.

A profile question

Called up to play the November 2024 tour, the man who still has a well-trimmed beard still has two players ahead of him in the hierarchy: Thomas Ramos and Léo Barré. It was the second who started in 15 during the first test against Japan, the first being used at the opening to compensate for Romain Ntamack's withdrawal. And while we did not suspect any major changes in the lineup for the match against New Zealand, the tide seems to be turning. “I spoke with Romain at the start of the week, he told me that he had the impression that it was going to happen,” confides Lucas Rey, hooker of the Pau Section and close friend of Buros. The full-back is finally cited by Fabien Galthié, when the team composition was announced on Thursday. “I was happy for him, I think he deserves it, Rey continues. He's been working for this for years and it hasn't necessarily been easy for him. He always had within him this desire to work so that this opportunity would present itself one day. » The person concerned tries to remain lucid despite the surprise: “I didn’t necessarily expect it. This is something I've been looking for for a long time. Now I'm going to have to sink my teeth into it because I think this is the kind of moment that should be taken advantage of. Having the selection is not the goal. The goal is to be good on this first selection.” A first against the Blacks, after three years of waiting: the Landais couldn't dream of better. Still one of the bosses of a more than serious UBB at the start of the season, would he have finally convinced the Blues staff by his club performances alone, he who had estimated before leaving for Marcoussis, to be “legitimate” ?

Karim Ghezal has a theory: “Romain Buros is very good in the air. At international level, almost one ball in three for a winger or a full-back is an aerial ball. So I think that if they field him it's primarily for that. But there is something else, in addition to his involvement, if Damian Penaud had been present, the rear triangle would have been that of the UBB and the strong point of Bordeaux-Bègles is the counter-rucks at the end of the line. Blacks play a lot with their wingers and if we manage to wage war in the corridors or after kicking games, it can make the difference. With Gabin Villière who is a big scrapper, there is really this objective in this match. match against the All Blacks suits Buros well.”

The question of the profile would therefore have pushed the staff to give the keys to the truck to a neophyte at the international level. Bru confirms: “I believe that the new approach of the refereeing body on aerial duels – namely that the escorts can support but not protect the ball taker – highlights the need to have a very strong player in aerial duels. And if Romain has a superpower, it's there.” One last question still arises, that of the pressure for a player who has never worn the blue jersey.

A first against the Blacks, “It's beautiful”

Making your first with the French XV is not trivial, nor is playing a match against the legendary All Blacks. So combining the two is enough to paralyze a player, especially at the back. “On the contrary, it's magnificent, Bru cut. A match against New Zealand is always a rugby match in its own right. He's been beating around the bush for a long time and we're really happy for him. He knew how to build things patiently.” The UBB manager is not the only one to have confidence in Buros. Everyone says they feel ready for this immense challenge. “He works a lot, sometimes too much, because he wants to succeed, argued Vili. He wanted to have the opportunity he will have this weekend. He's someone who won't talk about his frustrations but who will work in the shadows and improve without telling anyone.”

Not to mention the fact that the full-back has been one of the 42 called up for more than three years and has therefore been able to learn the French game plan, even if he has never been able to play a match. “He’s an underrated player and knowing the staff, they know very well what they’re doing, says Ghezal. I have no doubt that he will perform well against the Blacks.” After so much frustration and waiting, Buros is where he wanted to be.