The hangover is enormous… The disillusionment, colossal. Beaten on Sunday by South Africa (28-29) in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup, the Blues said goodbye to their dreams of the first world title. And they left each other this Tuesday, they returned to their homes and joined their families for a well-deserved break, they who had been on deck since the beginning of the summer, before returning – with broken souls – to the Top 14.
But what did Fabien Galthié’s players do before leaving? The sports daily L’Équipe details, in its Wednesday edition, the last moments of their adventure. On Sunday night, they returned to their hotel in Rueil-Malmaison, in Hauts-de-Seine in the Paris suburbs, but they quickly learned that they had to leave the premises (by Monday 1 p.m.) to make way for them. to the Argentinians, qualified for the last four against New Zealand, after beating Wales. A hasty departure written into the regulations of World Rugby, the international federation. The stewards of the Blues had to hastily transfer all the material and equipment to the CNR in Marcoussis (Essonne).
At the end of their frustrating defeat against the Boks, Antoine Dupont and his teammates did not debrief their match, nor was there a farewell ceremony for the departing staff members (Laurent Labit, Karim Ghezal) and to the players who announced their international retirement (Uini Atonio and Romain Taofifenua, both 33 years old). This Monday, their heads still full of sadness and resentment (in particular towards the New Zealand referee Ben O’Keeffe whose several non-whistled fouls caused controversy), the delegation met for a last meal in an Italian restaurant in the Porte de Saint-Cloud, in the 16th arrondissement of the capital.
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Some extended the afternoon and evening over a few drinks, reports L’Équipe. In calm and cohesion. But with a heavy heart after this major disillusionment. It will take time to release all this frustration. A few days of vacation, before diving back into the championship and European Cup games. Which will, inevitably, have a very bitter flavor.
In the last episode of the web series “Mixed Destiny” produced by the FFR, coach Fabien Galthié had these harsh words at half-time while his team was leading 22-19: “As soon as we play the way we played , it’s 30 points normally, 30 points he should see there!” And Antoine Dupont rails against the French feverishness under the high balls: “On all pressure kicks, don’t be lazy. Whatever happens, we have to be underneath and there have to be only Blues. There, every time, there are only Greens!”
The Blues’ reunion is scheduled for the end of January-beginning of February for a clash against Ireland, also blackballed in the quarters by the All Blacks. A first match of the Six Nations Tournament which will take place on Friday February 2 at the Vélodrome de Marseille, the matches in France having been relocated to the provinces since the Stade de France is requisitioned to prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The reception of the Italy will take place in Lille on Sunday February 25 (4 p.m.), and the Crunch against England will be held at Groupama Stadium in Lyon on Saturday March 16 at 9 p.m. So far and so close…
