Compared to the victorious All Blacks team (30-29), Fabien Galthié announced, Wednesday November 20, that he will make four changes in the French XV which will face Argentina in a test match, Friday at the Stade de France. “We know that against these teams, we need to recover, he explained. That's why there are rotations, a group that moves but needs consistency. Playing six days after the Blacks is not a gift.”
Among the changes, we find that of full-back Romain Buros, author of his first selection last week and scorer of his first international try. The player from Union Bordeaux Bègles is replaced by that of Stade français, Léo Barré. “Romain Buros was scheduled on the match sheet, explained the technician. But he hasn't fully recovered from a thigh crutch. He was completely honest with us. In the agreements with the League, we have the right to keep five additional players. So a decision had to be made. It was Romain who took it.”
Tested by the start of the season for his club La Rochelle and started in the first two matches, Grégory Alldritt left the group, in favor of Charles Ollivon, former captain left out against Japan and on the bench against New Zealand. Tevita Tatafu, who had honored his first cap against the Japanese, but was injured very early against the All Blacks, leaves his place to Uini Atonio, himself returning from injury. “Tevita really understood what the international level was”rejoiced Fabien Galthié, who “count on him for the Tournament”. The tricolor staff does so in the face of bad luck.
“We have a French championship which is magnificent combined with a European Cup, which makes a season of 40 matches, reminds the coach. We understand the constraints of clubs. In front of us, we are playing the All Blacks who have played 12 or 14 matches with their national team, plus 10 matches with their province. We work with this ecosystem, and we are very happy about it, because the Buros and Tatafu have emerged thanks to their good performances in the championship. But that's why we allow ourselves to give players regeneration windows.” The observation remains: “We have too many injured people. It is necessary to develop the potential that is emerging.”
As for the Matthieu Jalibert episode, reservist against New Zealand and who preferred to return to Bordeaux last week, Fabien Galthié, who made incisive remarks at a press conference last Thursday, calmed things down. “There is no controversy surrounding Matthieu Jalibert. He needed to regenerate. I discuss with him. I find it a shame the amalgamation between the comments made towards a team which is going to head towards a match, which needs strong words, and players from the France group, of which he is a part, who have other needs, who we support”. The UBB opening half was not called up on Sunday in the list of 42 players who prepared for this last match of 2024 against Argentina.
