One has not worn the Bleus jersey since February 2023. The other is one of the revelations of the last Six Nations Tournament. Gaëtan Barlot (27 years old, 7 caps) and Léo Barré (21 years old, 2 caps) displayed the same relaxed attitude on Tuesday at the end of the sunny training session, four days before the first test match against Argentina, Saturday (9 p.m., French time). The same pleasure to be there above all. “We can’t wait to play,” admits the Castres number 2 who has been in the France group since the start of the gathering on June 17. The staff is starting to build up the pressure and show us the importance of this match in Argentina where the French team has won very little. We hope for two victories against the Pumas to mark the tour. “
“It will be a level above the Top 14”
Gaëtan Barlot, hooker from Castres
At his side, Léo Barré, the young Stade Français full-back, is enjoying it just as much. “It’s my first tour,” he says. “I still have stars in my eyes and I’m very happy to be back with the group.” And Barlot immediately adds: “It’s just a pleasure. It’s nice to see new faces in Argentina with novices as you say, new friends.” He had already experienced a nearly similar tour in Australia three years ago when the Blues had already had to challenge the Wallabies without their usual key players who stayed at home. “It’s thanks to this tour that I was able to get a few more selections and I tell the youngsters to have as much fun as possible today to feast their hearts out.”
Internally, the discourse of the staff and the few veterans, including the most experienced Baptiste Serin, is to evacuate any negative pressure. Barré has understood this perfectly. “As Gaëtan says, we want to have as much fun and experience as possible. It’s an extremely rich adventure and we want to enjoy every moment.” Even more so of course in the event of a victory on Saturday in Mendoza. If the team composition will not be made official until Thursday, Barlot and Barré are expected in this starting fifteen. And both do not want to miss out. “It will be a level above the Top 14,” warns Barlot, “and we must be ready from this first match.” It will then be time to switch to the more friendly match against Uruguay four days later in Montevideo then the second official test against Argentina on July 13 in Buenos Aires.
