The new France 7 men's coach-selector says he is satisfied with the first outing of his troops, ranked fifth in Dubai. An event which gave beginners, including him, the opportunity to experience the specificities of the world circuit.
What feeling dominates at the end of this first tournament of the season: the frustration of elimination at the last minute in the quarter or the satisfaction of having competed against a significantly rejuvenated group?
Above all, I want to keep the good things, starting with our character, which I really liked. This is what allowed us to achieve several victories in the end. The match against Fiji was particularly interesting. The guys had no fear and they competed with the Fijians.
Did you feel a special atmosphere around this match, four months after the Olympic final?
No because everyone has moved on. We must move forward even if the memories are engraved. The Fijians were able to bounce back, too, since we were close to beating them. There were some hiccups in this quarter-final but that's part of the learning process.
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Did you set a goal in terms of results?
There was nothing announced, concretely. The only objective was to get to the quarter because, once you are there, a new competition begins. In the end, the team proved its worth and will be able to capitalize on this first tournament.
What did this competition inspire you, which could not have been more indecisive, with groups largely reworked compared to previous years?
Not that much, to tell the truth. Having seen the field, we are the nation which has renewed its workforce the most, so it is all the more promising. For the rest, the men's championship is very dense. I thought there would be more teams behind but the fact is everyone can beat everyone. You just have to look at the progress of Spain, with whom we did joint training, who reached the final or the performances of Kenya who will only progress…
How did you find the six beginners in your group?
Alright. They were lucid and rose to the demands of a World Series. Many of them were able to show their ability to play at this level of competition. The connection with the rest of the group is good too.
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Personally, what do you take away from this great premiere?
It was very enriching. I was able to talk with many coaches, I discovered the whole strategic aspect, the intensity of the matches, the management of emotions… You need an optimal capacity for reactivity in this context. Everything is happening so fast.
What’s next for you?
This Monday, the group leaves for Cape Town to compete in the second stage. We will continue to rehearse our ranges in order to give ourselves the means to win as many matches as possible next weekend. There will be a change in the group because Romain Gardrat was injured. We're going to bring in reinforcements.
