Fabien Galkié is looking forward to starting the Six Nations tournament this Friday (9:15 p.m.) against Wales. But it is less in a hurry to comment on the feedback from Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou after their extra-sporting setbacks in Argentina. The coach of the XV of France explained, this Wednesday, on the composition of his group of 23 players, called to challenge the XV of Le Poireau in a stadium in France.
The return of the Dupont-Nentamack hinge
The two Toulouse accomplices will again guide the game of the Blues on Friday. A habit (27th association, a record for the XV of France) that we had not seen for almost two years. It was against Scotland in August 2023, in the World Cup preparation match. Romain Ntamack was injured in the knee, missing the World Cup then the 2024 Six Nations Tournament. Again absent during the November tests, during which Antoine Dupont was returning after his golden Olympic parenthesis, the half opening 25 years old is suitable this time.
“We can greet his return. Today he is ready. It gives us a hinge aligned regularly in club and with us. Dupont-Nentamack is a old new hinge, which has a lot of experience and common experience, despite his young age, ”commented Fabien Galkié. The coach of the Blues insists on the consistency of maintaining this duo. “In my time as a player, we changed the hinge with each defeat. We gave the keys to the truck, but it was a rental truck. There, we try to build something more solid. Behind the word confidence, there is a reality. Antoine and Romain can play with more ease, freedom. »»
The return of Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou
The second line in Pau and the third line of La Rochelle are on the replacement bench, 7 months after the start of the case that rocked the XV of France in Argentina. Having benefited from a dismissal in an aggravated rape case, Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou will find the ground with the blue jersey. They will undoubtedly enter the second half. How have they been integrated and what will be the reception of the Stade de France? Fabien Garthié, a bit annoyed, evacuates the question.
“There are questions that we have already answered a lot. We have been answering this subject for six months. Today it is the announcement of the XV of France, these are players who deserve to play, who perform, who have prepared. I’m going to focus on the game against Wales, the tournament, and all the questions about rugby. ” Fabien Galkié also slipped a word on the sporting role of Hugo Auradou, replacing Alexandre Roumat in the second line. “Hugo Auradou has this profile too, with the key, activity and trip. He has the same player’s profile as Alexander, in a little less experienced. »»
The role of William Servat in the staff
The assistant of Galthié in charge of the conquest, William Servat, was, according to our information, recalled to order for the organization of too many “moments of conviviality”, in a context of alcoholic overflows in some players. Servat was asked to get off on the organization of these evenings.
Fabien Galkié has again kicked in touch. “There too, this is a subject on which it is not necessary to answer,” said the coach. The performance plan, more than the charter alone (Established in November, it notably plans to ban alcohol on performance places), shows the group’s ability to evolve, grow, understand the issues. It works. I want to greet the excellent work of the staff and in particular of William Servat for 55 games, only 11 defeats. It continues, it’s even better than before. »»
Success the tournament and win a title
After a completely missed 2024 tournament start (defeat in Marseille against Ireland, a short victory in Scotland and null in Lille against Italy), the Blues of Galkié, who only won one title in five years (Grand Chelem 2022), are expected at the turn. The coach knows. “We learn a lot of these moments, from the past tournament,” he says. For this 6th tournament, our staff has a knowledge and a experience that allow us to improve our preparation. We prepare better, at all levels. In the backgrounds of the players, there has been consistency for six years, an experience that is densified. We have the feeling of being ready. »»
On the absence of a title, Fabien Garthié says he heard this “recurring background noise”, but assures that the French team “Perform enormously, with 80 % of victories on 55 test matches, it’s extraordinary, that n ‘has never been realized ”. The results in the tournament, with 4 second places and a large home, is “very good, excellent”, but the Blues “want to do better, continue to grow and progress”, despite “the vagaries”: “c ‘ is impossible to predict what will happen in the tournament. »Answer on the field from Friday.