The test match between France and the All Blacks was so hotly contested that the New Zealanders want their revenge next summer during the Blues' tour of the southern hemisphere. Problem, Fabien Galthié plans to leave many executives to rest.
From start to finish, it was beautiful. From the anthems and the haka in a stadium plunged into darkness, to the final whistle which sealed the fate of an exciting and indecisive meeting, the match between the XV of France and New Zealand was a formidable advertising for Rugby. A promotion so good that it caused immense frustration for the All Blacks: that of not finding the best version of the Blues next summer, during a tour where Fabien Galthié has already announced that he would leave many executives resting, notably the Top 14 finalists.
“Dear XV of France. Please send the best team you can to New Zealand next year. Speak with the Top 14 and find a solution. Today's match reminds us that nothing can beat a real international match. Our children would love to see Dupont, Ntamack, Penaud in their garden”wrote a New Zealand internet user on Saturday evening on X (formerly Twitter).
On RugbyPass, Nic Bishop developed the same subject.
“What wouldn’t the New Zealand rugby public give to see players like Mauvaka and Meafou up front, and Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey at the back, visit their shores next July – without even whispering the name of the “best player in the world” into the bargain? »he writes, in reference to a certain Antoine Dupont.
Nic Bishop evokes the rivalry between the Blues and the Blacks over the years, recalling the moments of tricolor bravery against the New Zealanders, during the 1999 and 2007 World Cups, or with the end of the world try in 1994 . “If South Africa has been New Zealand's rugby 'woman' for a long time, France is its mistress, living in the shadows. (…) It’s Galthié and company to make this happen, to rekindle one of rugby's greatest love stories”,
writes the RugbyPass columnist.
Galthié doesn’t have much choice…
Unfortunately, Fabien Galthié was very clear on this point last week in L'Equipe. “I thought a lot about this principle of tours which are, I maintain, the most beautiful thing in international rugby. Going away for 4-5 weeks, going to live the experience, it's magnificent. I love it, we all love it. To go and win a tour in New Zealand is huge, assured the Blues coach. But what do we do when we know that, for example, World Rugby says that a player must not exceed six match sheets in a row before being rested. We know very well that so-called premium players are in high demand after the Tournament (in March) and until the final phase of the Top 14. From experience, between the five matches of the Tournament, the four of the final phase of the Coupe Europe, the three of the Top 14, the end of season matches to qualify, we arrive at fifteen matches, sometimes twenty. (…) How do you expect me to add a month of competition in July for these boys, three matches that are certainly fabulous but of maximum intensity? We would get closer to forty matches, it's not possible. We had counted on thirty-five, which is already enormous. »
For Fabien Galthié, we unfortunately have to remain reasonable and make choices. “If we play too much, we will lead these boys into a regression, he explains. As a player, I experienced going on tour tired. It was an ordeal and, at the time, we played less. How do we manage not to burn this population to death? I dream of taking our best team to New Zealand. But that would mean that clubs would be ready not to see their best players again in September or October. It's very hard for the clubs, who pay them. »
And it is also difficult to hear for the New Zealanders, who will not be entitled to the “real” XV of France. “ Are they sad? Unhappy? I agree with them,” admits Galthié.
