The manager of the Blues Raphaël Ibanez said he hoped on Saturday that the Stade de France public would “warm up their voices” on Sunday against Australia, before “getting into the heart of the matter” against the All Blacks, at the opening of the World Cup. 2023 on September 8.
The match against the Wallabies on Sunday (5:45 p.m.), the last of the four preparatory meetings for the XV of France before starting its World Cup at home, should allow “simply to strengthen our collective benchmarks by undoubtedly being more enterprising, more solid, tougher”.
“We are all aware that this is the last match before getting into the heart of the matter, and what remains essential in our eyes is to confirm the state of mind which has been excellent since the first day. preparation, “said the former Blues hooker at a press conference.
The tricolor management, which hopes for a full stadium, believes that faced with the “emotions” that the players will experience for their last match before the World Cup, it is necessary to be “as natural as possible”, added Ibanez.
After preparation matches in Scotland then in Saint-Etienne and Nantes, the Blues indeed return to the Stade de France on Sunday, where their last appearance dates from March 18, against Wales (41-18), during the last day of the Six Nations Tournament.
They will play there on September 8 against New Zealand in the opening match of the World Cup. “It’s a bond that we will renew with our public, in an exceptional environment with the hope that the supporters of the XV of France warm their voices, a little bit: it would be good” before the opening match against the All Blacks, he concluded.
