Since the start of his term, Fabien Galthié has hardly got into the habit of bluffing. During the weeks preceding the matches of his XV of France, the tricolor coach does not hide his game during training sessions open to the press: depending on the color of the bibs worn by the players – blue or white -, it is easy to determine the composition of the Blues for the meeting of the weekend. And when it comes to the big meeting they have been preparing for four years, the opening match of “their” World Cup at home, the French coach has hardly changed his habits.
To face the New Zealand All Blacks, Friday September 8 (9:15 p.m.), in a summit of world rugby, the French management chose “the best team in France at the moment”, assured Fabien Galthié Wednesday September 6 in conference Press.
While most of the team composition was known, with the usual backbone of the 2022 Grand Slam winners – from Julien Marchand to Thomas Ramos via Grégory Alldritt and Antoine Dupont – uncertainty remained about the second center lined up alongside Gaël Fickou. Injured in the hamstrings during the final preparation outing against Australia, Jonathan Danty took part in training this week, but the usual holder proved too fair to face the All Blacks. He is replaced in the starting fifteen by the young Bordeaux player Yoram Moefana. “We are losing a strong element, but we have another strong element behind to replace it, summarized winger Gabin Villière at a press conference. Yoram was present at the Grand Slam last year, and he has his strengths. »
“Everyone sees us lifting this trophy already”
The fortieth team composition of Fabien Galthié’s mandate is that of an appointment marked for four years on the calendar. “This match is a celebration, a joy, a great happiness, insisted the Lot technician. What could be better than facing New Zealand” in the opening match of the World Cup? If the tricolor coach expects “a challenge in all areas, in terms of individual, collective performance, strategy, and emotional performance” against an opponent he considers “the best team in the world”, he, like his men, endeavored to evacuate the pressure linked to the event.
“Hosting a global event, the Holy Grail of our sport, of course there is pressure,” assumed captain Antoine Dupont. We have had convincing results in recent seasons, so today, everyone already sees us lifting this trophy. » However, the ambitious Blues ensure that they “can manage not to worry too much”, and maintain their operations that have been in place for four years. “We are very light, we don’t carry any weight [related to pressure] that could weigh us down. We are very happy to play and start on Friday against New Zealand,” insisted Fabien Galthié.
Friday, the XV of France has an appointment with the All Blacks, their haka – to which they claim not to prepare, favoring the preparation of the match – and 80,000 of their fiery fans. The Blues also have an appointment with their history, France having never won the World Cup despite three disputed finals.
Thomas Ramos – Damian Penaud, Gaël Fickou, Yoram Moefana, Gabin Villière – (o) Matthieu Jalibert, (m) Antoine Dupont (cap.) – Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt, François Cros – Thibaud Flament, Cameron Woki – Uini Atonio, Julien Merchant, Reda Wardi
Peato Mauvaka, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, Paul Boudehent, Maxime Lucu, Arthur Vincent, Melvyn Jaminet
