After a big victory over the Pumas (37-23), the Blues coach Fabien Galthié congratulated his players and was delighted with this victorious tour, while delivering a few messages.
What do you remember after this victorious tour?
It was an important gathering. We had to find a dynamic again and be present in these three matches. It was done, with a follow-up to this last meeting in just six days. We faced experienced teams since they had been together for six months. Our challenge was to quickly find an organization to perform. We are therefore satisfied with the results, especially in this last match.
Is this a controlled victory?
When we win with two tries more than the Argentinians, yes. Especially considering their performance seven days earlier in Ireland. After all, everything is relative. At the break, with a 21-point lead, we thought we could be more ambitious in the second half. This was without taking into account the reaction capacity of the Argentines and their current level. We are therefore very satisfied with this result.
Is your offensive efficiency the real positive point of your tour?
Yes, but we can do better. We still have highlights that we haven't concluded. As soon as we respected our roadmap, we were dangerous and effective in moving up the field, in managing the match and having, in quotes, control of the match, particularly in the money-time. In the last two matches, we had the upper hand. Going into the last 20 minutes of a match with this capital of confidence, even if you are never safe, is good.
You said you wanted to develop your offensive game, particularly due to this. Are you where you wanted to be?
The offensive game is not an isolated structure. The offensive game depends on our ability to conquer the ball in the conquest phases but also in the combat phases such as aerial duels. It also depends on our ability to defend. It is therefore difficult to isolate our offensive game from the whole. We can do better, obviously. But, honestly, we checked enough boxes to master those essential last 20 minutes. Now, we don't pay ourselves enough, there's room for improvement. Most importantly, what we decided to do, the players implemented it. No need to check all the boxes every time to win.
Does this victorious tour really launch the start of your second term?
I don't know, I see it more as continuity. Our arrow of time continues after the quarter-final lost against South Africa. This match is also part of our path. There is no need to separate Act 1 from Act 2. The team is still at 80% winning, despite a year 2024 which some say is more or less successful. But it's a team with human beings, injuries, weak times, strong times. Besides, another injury… I am very sad for Jean-Baptiste Gros who is in great shape and who is injured during a forbidden move. It's annoying.
Have your keywords become emulation and competition and is Charles Ollivon a symbol of this?
That's always been the case. When a team wins 80% of its matches for four years, which has never happened in France, which has a series of 14 victories, we can think that all the players who make it up can be starters. So there is never any comfort for anyone. Let's not mix things up. Emulation is healthy. Accepting to wear this jersey means accepting to experience great moments as well as difficult moments or reasons in question, personal or collective. There has never been a comfort zone on this team.
Do these three victories allow you to turn the page after the tour in Argentina?
No, this tour to Argentina is part of our history. The victory of Mendoza, with a team with an average of 3 selections, was complete. Unfortunately, we then had to play rugby with what happened to us. It was very special. But it’s part of our journey. We became one, contrary to what can be said.
Does this tour also validate your working method at 42?
The 42-man method allows us to expand the potential of this team, to prepare players likely to join the team. We saw it with Marko Gazotti. He spent a month with us, this evening he has his first cap by playing half-time against Argentina. Romain Buros, came with us to Australia (2021), Japan (2022), without playing. He comes in against the Blacks, he has a great match. This method creates emulation and quality in training. With our schedule, eight matches in winter in which we can take the best players, that's what I prefer. The A 42 method will have been the basis of our eight years spent together. If we have the possibility, in the FFR/LNR agreements, for us it is extraordinary. For the players too.
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