Whatever the result of the match against Japan, the players of the French XV will have one rule to respect after this meeting, once back in the locker room: no post-match beer! This is part of the new bans in the FFR's reinforced performance plan, which has banned the consumption of alcohol in performance venues, which includes changing rooms.
What if the Blues' opponents arrive with beers in hand?
Questioned by L'Equipe, Florian Grill wanted to qualify this ban, so as not to show that this is a stupid and nasty ban and that the FFR will leave no room for conviviality. Because in fact, we must not forget one detail: if the French are deprived of beer, this is not the case for their opponents, like the Japanese this evening. And what will happen if the Brave Blossoms come to see the Blues to chat with them, after the match, with a beer in hand? The president of the FFR, and his vice-president Jean-Marc Lhermet, discussed this scenario.
By banning post-match beer, we are above all symbolic. It is a principle that must guide us. If on Saturday evening, Japanese people enter the Blues locker room with beers to toast, we are not going to turn them away. This rule applies to us but we cannot apply it to others. Besides, the Japanese have the right to order beers from us for their locker room. (Florian Grill)
We especially do not want to encourage the systematic drinking of beer in the locker rooms. But if a Japanese comes to drink a beer, of course we will toast with him. This framework will only be applicable if it is intelligent and there is common sense behind it. Some things are negotiable, others are adaptable at the margin within the framework of things discussed before and very well defined. (Jean-Marc Lhermet)
And after the locker rooms, what will happen to the players' evenings or receptions? Jean-Marc Lhermet refutes any desire to “flicage” and expects a lot from “leaders” in charge of organizing the players. Player accountability has therefore not entirely disappeared.
To summarize
Whatever the result of the match against Japan, the players of the French XV will have one rule to respect after this meeting, once back in the locker room: no post-match beer! Unless? Florian Grill and Jean-Marc Lhermet were keen to qualify these prohibitions in the reinforced performance plan.
