Special envoy to Lille
How do you explain this draw against Italy? Fabien Galthié: By the scenario of the match. We were unable to capitalize on our strong domination in the first half and, in the second, with the red card, we showed self-sacrifice but it became difficult with 14 men. We had fewer opportunities . Despite this, the players did not give up. They held on even though it felt like it was really difficult at times. Territorial domination, but low efficiency, then this red card, it’s a difficult scenario… It’s a difficult Tournament. We turn our backs but it’s a painful moment. We can’t do what we want to do. We can only see this despite our desire to do better.
Is the France team in crisis? When we don’t win matches, it’s not positive. A defeat is a crisis in itself. So, yes: it’s a delicate, painful time. The emotions felt are difficult. It’s time to come together…
Also read: Six Nations: held in check by Italy, the French XV in complete disarray
Do you feel anger or despondency? Neither anger nor despondency. More like the difficulty of experiencing this match. The feeling when returning to the locker room is: “we’re in trouble”. But I think the players were very generous in the first half. They dominated enormously but without achieving anything. As is often the case in this case, it turns on the details, which become against us. In the only defensive situation in the first half, 45 meters from our goal, it gave us a red card… It reversed the dynamic of the match. The Italians had more space, and bravo to them. For our part, the players who returned came together as one…
What feeling predominates then? We must be aware that we are in a period of pain and responsibility. And have the very firm desire to meet with ambition and great determination for the last block of this Tournament, against Wales in Cardiff, then England in Lyon.
What do you think is due to this clear decline in the French team? Is it psychological? Is this linked to the changes in the staff? Of course, we can clearly see the areas for improvement to be made. It is a period to go through fully, an experience that must be assumed with responsibility. Toward us. Towards our supporters, our educators, our loved ones too. You have to be resilient in difficult times. The gap seems enormous between the recent past and today, but I assure you that there is not much in fact…
Are you going to stick to your logic of continuity of the workforce? On the men, things are still moving. There are rotations linked to circumstances. The team composition has changed quite a bit since the quarter-final… Afterwards, our way of working is first and foremost vision and consistency. We are capable of making observations, analyzes and making decisions… But, I repeat, it does not take much for this rendering that does not satisfy us to move towards a more joyful, pleasant and harmonious rendering.
A yellow card and a red against Ireland, a yellow against Scotland, another red this Sunday. It’s becoming problematic…We agree that red or yellow cards don’t help us. They clearly put us in difficulty by disrupting our balance. These faults – high contacts – we work a lot on body position to avoid them. For the moment, this does not suit us and it costs us dearly. But we are all responsible. We are not going to overwhelm a player who thinks he is putting in the energy.
Comments collected at a press conference
