“A team needs to play because training does not replace a match”, justified Thursday the coach of the XV of France Fabien Galthié, questioned on the increased risk of injury before the fourth and last meeting of preparation for the World Cup-2023 des Bleus, against Australia on Sunday.
Fabien Galthié: “Matthieu Jalibert, he has been traveling and playing with us for four years, he has almost 30 selections, and the approach of the thirtieth is really a milestone, which he is in the process of passing. He has gone through very happy moments and other more complex ones related to performance or injuries. He is still young and he is approaching international maturity, we have always counted on him for four years, there is no discussion about his potential and his ability to assume the position of N.10 ”.
Raphaël Ibanez: “Sunday’s match is unheard of, it’s a first because the stadium will be full, we expect remarkable attendance, which gives some idea of the enthusiasm around our team and a taste of what will happen on September 8 (during the opening match against New Zealand, note).
Fabien Galthié: “Australia is our fourth preparation match. Those four games in a month gave us a rhythm for both players and staff, against nations ranked in the top ten in the world. We are still in this period of preparation, we are focused on this match and the team that we are lining up on Sunday will allow us to develop the collective experience as well as to prepare the players for the test that awaits us (against the All Blacks, note).
Fabien Galthié: “The debate (on the number of preparation matches, editor’s note), we hear it but rugby is a combat sport and we know that you can get injured in training, as in warming up or in game. Look, last weekend against Fiji, we fell on levels of intensity rarely reached in four years but we finished without injury. So, no, you have to play to prepare, we are all aligned on that. Why did we choose to play a month of preparation matches? Because a team needs to play, training does not replace a match, although of course I can hear that you should not play so much.
Fabien Galthié: “Saturday, the victory (34-17) against Fiji was that of the method, once again, it rewarded four years of work and consistency. And Paul Willemse (is the illustration), he had a difficult season but he had a good match on Saturday and he will continue to raise his level of rugby. He was there where we expected and this last preparation match will be another story, he will switch to another dimension.
Raphaël Ibanez: “Obviously, there was an obligatory passage with the announcement of the 33, the time for the players to digest this announcement and then then a day off, before we resume the path of training. But at no time did we doubt the group’s ability to be fully committed to playing and winning this World Cup, just as we had no doubts about the reserves’ ability to get involved this week. Very concretely, and despite solid atmospheric conditions, the players who were unfortunately destined to leave the group yesterday (Wednesday) evening, gave their all, which confirms to us that this World Cup will be played at 42.
Comments collected at a press conference.