After the packages of Penaud and Taofifenua positive for Covid, the coach of the Blues did not hide his fear that other cases would be detected before the match against the Welsh on Friday evening.
After the withdrawals of Damian Penaud and Romain Taofifenua, are you afraid that there will be others before Friday’s match?
Fabien Galthié: We are preparing for it. We will be retested. We have no additional information. It is the Six Nations Committee which will impose the rest of us tomorrow (Thursday), whether there are new tests or not. We don’t know, we are waiting for information. But we are preparing for it…
Read alsoXV of France: the Blues without Penaud and Taofifenua, positive for Covid, against Wales
With Romain Taofifenua’s package, you changed the bench configuration with five forwards and three backs, compared to a six-two before. Is it embarrassing? What does this change for you?
First, you have to adapt. The word “inconvenient” is not appropriate. It is rather adaptation-reaction. We are a French group which must be complementary no matter what. Anywhere, anytime, with anyone. So we changed our team of finishers to a five-three rather than a six-two. Matthis Lebel enters the game sheet. Yoram (Moefana) returns to the starting XV. Here are the changes, with Gabin (Villière) also coming back in relation to Scotland. Unfortunately for them, Damian and Romain learned this morning (Wednesday), while they were packing their bags like everyone else, that they were excluded, isolated. It’s violent, for having known it, I can testify to it. It is very violent psychologically. First a thought for them, for their family, for their friends who are in the team composition. It’s violent but we have to continue. Guys coming in, Yoram is ready, Matthis is more than ready. There is “Momo” (Haouas) who also enters, to highlight for his birthday today. They are really ready.
Why did you choose Mohamed Haouas over Demba Bemba?
He’s better, he’s good, he’s very good. In training, he has a string of matches with Montpellier. He sends positive signs to his teammates and the staff. We are of course thinking of Demba who is giving his all and who is also ready.
We have seen that Melvyn Jaminet was jostled not only in the air but also in the analyses…
Fabien Galthie
What’s the news on Antoine Dupont, who cut his training session short on Tuesday after suffering a blow to the arm?
The news is good, all is well. He is there, very present. Captain. Perfect.
Melvyn Jaminet has struggled in the air in the last two matches. How do you explain it and did you support it?
We clearly saw that he was jostled not only in the air but also in the analyses… (Laughs) It’s part of the game, of the journey. You have to be able to live very objectively, to tell yourself things, to analyze them. That’s what Melvyn does. We accept. The important thing is to tick a number of boxes that allow us to move forward. And to be efficient. Depending on the matches and the opponents, there are boxes that are easier to tick than others. If we talk about the game in Scotland, there was a lot of wind, very annoying for the receivers who were under pressure. And for those who had to kick the ball. You have to consider the ecosystem and the environment in which you play. There, in Cardiff, it will still be a particular configuration. With maybe rain, with the roof open. The aerial game is not just an individual problem. It is a management and a collective responsibility. The aerial game is also won on the ground. He’s not just one guy, that would weaken him.
Read alsoXV of France: from forgotten to essential, the rebirth of Jonathan Danty
The three front row players, Baille-Marchand-Atonio, have a string of matches. Have you found your first line?
We are always looking for performance and a form of progression. For two years, we really have the impression that the players are gaining in experience, in maturity, in confidence. It’s consistent, solid growth for 23 games. They haven’t played all the matches, but they take part in training, they live with the team. Complementarity is first of all about competence. The melee, the phases of combat stopped like the touch, the maul… The mastery, the leadership of Julien (Marchand). Somewhere also that of Cyril and Uini make them worthy of being associated. I would also like to say that if they have this level, it is because there are also Mauvaka, Gros, Haouas and Bamba who accompany them in this progression. They clearly play matches with six or seven. There is a form of emulation, they are associated. We have two very complementary first lines. There is a lot of altruism.
In Cardiff, we are in the sublime, the marvelous of rugby
Fabien Galthie
What is your view on Wales, which is defending champion but in difficulty this year?
Their stadium is wonderful. Since the age of 18, I went there with the French university team. Cardiff and its stadium, it represents the lung or a vital organ of this competition. This stadium and this audience, 80,000 spectators. When we descend from the bottom, the Welsh choirs accompany us to the changing rooms. It takes you, it gives you goosebumps. Before the match, the players go four minutes in the dark, in the middle of the public, isolated. There is a show. We are in the sublime, the marvelous of rugby. It is a nation which with few inhabitants invents rugby players. We were fed with Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams and all this generation of the 70s that made us dream.
Does the war in Ukraine have an impact on the group?
We have to answer your question. It is true that what is happening in the world is not neutral. We are focused on our own mission which is to play rugby and represent France around the world. It’s true that not far from us, what everyone can see is happening, this war. It is not neutral, we follow it closely. This is what we can do for the moment. Listen, hear, see, imagine. It is not neutral for our team.
Statements taken at a press conference
