“Playing in blue is not a linear path”: Garthié explains the return of Jalibert for England-France

Main novelty to face the English this Saturday (5:45 p.m.) in Twickenham: the tenure of Matthieu Jalibert. The opener of Bordeaux-Bègles (26, 34 selections) will replace Romain Ntamack, suspended until the match against Italy, on February 23, for his shoulder on the head of a Welsh player during the victory At the Stade de France at the opening of the Six Nations Tournament (43-0) last Friday.

The coach Fabien Garthié, who unveiled his composition this Thursday morning in Marcoussis (Essonne), returned to this choice and on the return of Damian Penaud for this crunch who smells the powder, facing the English revenge after the slap received there At two years in their Twickenham temple (10-53).

Matthieu Jalibert’s return to grace

The option did not flow from the source after the hint during the November tour between Matthieu Jalibert and Fabien Galkié. Romain Ntamack, injured in a calf, had then had to declare. Replacing against Japan (52-12) and coming into play half an hour, not retained among the 23 players aligned against New Zealand (30-29), the operator of the UBB had preferred to leave the group and join Bordeaux. He had not been called to prepare for the last autumn game against Argentina (37-23).

“He did a job with his club but I always said that he was remaining selectable,” says Galkié. It was also up to him to define a path, a method to be the best possible. Matthew has over 30 selections. The passage he knew is an interesting example. He is a high -level player who crosses pleasant moments and other difficult. The balance of power, he is with our opponents, never with our players. »»

The coach then tried to minimize the incident. “For all players, the challenge is the same,” he continued. Playing in the France team is not a linear path. There are different physical and psychological states depending on the moments. We work on this and on skills. When we noticed Romain Ntamack’s red card on Friday against the Welsh, we worked with the staff and from the same evening, the name of Jalibert came. »»

The return of Damian Penaud after a year of absence

Affected in a toe, Damian Penaud was unable to play the first match of the Six Nations tournament. The Bordeaux-Bègles winger (28 years old, 53 selections), already deprived of the fall tour for pulmonary problems, will find in Twickenham a jersey that he has not worn since March 16, 2024 and victory ahead The English (33-31) at the end of the tournament. He should thus have the opportunity to get closer, even more, of the test record of Serge Blanco (36 against 38).

The memory of the 2023 feat and the value of England

Unless the Blues had inflicted on the English a historic reverse on their lawn two years ago (10-53). “It went well for us but everything goes very quickly in rugby,” says Fabien Galkié. Last year, we won a minute from the end on a penalty by Thomas Ramos (33-31). It is difficult to plan from one year to the next. For six years, we have been preparing all the matches to win them. This week, we prepared to win. »»

The English, who have only beaten the Japanese since the last Six Nations tournament, remain for the coach of the opponents to be feared. “They are not far from becoming what they have been,” he says. It is a team which, despite its results, is always very close to victory. She almost beat the All Blacks in November (22-24). In Ireland last week, she led at halftime (defeat 27-22). It is one of the best world teams. »»