The coach took stock of the fall tour, which ended flawlessly. Offensive play, emulation, room for improvement…
What assessment do you make of these three victories in three matches?
Fabien Galthié. It was an important gathering, some players, like Antoine (Dupont) that we haven't had for a year. We had to regain momentum at the end of 2024, it was important to be present in these three matches. It's done, facing two teams (New Zealand and Argentina) who have been together for six months. Our challenge was to quickly find an organization to perform. This is the case, so we are satisfied with the results.
Your team impressed with its efficiency against Argentina…
Yes, and we can do better. There are highlights that we cannot conclude. But the most important thing is that we believe in our roadmap. We are very dangerous and very efficient in our progress on the pitch, to have control over the end of the match, over the last twenty minutes. We are still very high, we have some strong moments. And in defense, even when the opponent breaks the line, the curtain recovers well. We certainly take two tries, but on carried balls.
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Are you where you want to be in the development of your offensive game?
The offensive game is not an isolated structure. It depends on our ability to recover the ball and defend well. We cannot isolate it from the whole. We have the feeling that we can do better but we have ticked a lot of boxes. Due to hand faults, we don't get paid on certain highlights. There is obvious room for improvement, but the important thing is what we want to do works and that the players manage to apply it.
There has always been healthy emulation, never a comfort zone for anyone…
Do these three victories mark the start of Act 2 of your mandate?
The arrow of time is in its continuity. The lost World Cup quarter-final is part of our path. We must not separate act 1 and act 2, we are in continuity. The team is still at 80% victory, despite a year 2024 which some say is more or less successful. With imperfections, dross with problems to manage, which (make) it a team with human beings who have strong times, weak times, injuries too.
Is the key word for this tour emulation?
That's always been the case. When a team wins 80%, we can think that all the players have the level to remain starters. But there has always been healthy emulation, never a comfort zone for anyone… Wearing the French team jersey is sacred. Accepting to wear it means accepting the big moments, but also the challenges, personal or collective. We are still at 80% victories, which has never happened in the history of the XV of France. It's true, there is this quarter-final, but it's an experience that helps us move forward. Just like the Argentina tour this summer. We had to play rugby with what had happened to us. It was special, but it’s also part of our team’s journey.
This flawless performance further validates your working method with 42 players?
The 42-player method allows us to expand the potential, to start preparing players who can come in. Gazotti spent a month with us and he came back against Argentina and had a great match. Same for Buros against New Zealand. This method creates emulation and reinforces the quality of training. Newcomers challenge others who agree to be newcomers. If we have the possibility of keeping this formula, for us (the staff), it’s extraordinary. And that’s great for the players.
Comments collected at a press conference
