In 34 days, the XV of France will launch “its” World Cup with an opening match that looks like the final. On the evening of September 8, in a melting Stade de France, the Blues will indeed challenge the All Blacks. Men in black who, after two lackluster seasons, remembered their future opponents fondly by displaying regained form and collective mastery to head and shoulders dominate the Rugby Championship (the Southern Hemisphere tournament) in July.
Fabien Galthié and his troop therefore have a big month ahead of them to tackle this inaugural shock, then the competition which should offer them a first planetary title, to the best of their potential. Given the recovery of the Blues since the coach took office (80% victories), all dreams are indeed allowed.
A conquest which begins this Saturday (4:15 p.m., TF1) with a first test with multiple lessons. In what state of form are the Blues at the end of a month of intense physical preparation? Four weeks of more focused and targeted development than in previous world campaigns, these Blues can count, and this is a notable first, on solid foundations maintained over four years.
This French team with an experimental composition – all its executives have been left to rest – will it be able to compete with a team from Scotland which is fielding its best elements? And, corollary question, who, among these Review Blues, will stand out, will catch the eye of the coach and his staff to shake up the hierarchy for the famous list of 33 elected for the World Cup, unveiled on August 21 at the end of the first three preparation meetings (again the XV du Chardon next Saturday in Saint-Étienne, then the Fiji on August 19 in Nantes)?
Fabien Galthié may work hard to play down this last issue, to emphasize that nothing is ever lost, that the past is full of examples of players who failed and were finally recalled during the World Cup to make up for a withdrawal, they are a lot to play their future this Saturday at Murrayfield. With more or less pressure. The three novices have, by their own admission, “everything to gain and nothing to lose”. It is not the same for the many ghosts.
Brice Dulin, finally out of the closet where he has been patient for more than two years, has the opportunity to return to the game for a place at the back, a position where competition is raging with Toulouse’s Thomas Ramos and Melvyn Jaminet. At that of scrum-half, it is a question of deciding between Baptiste Couilloud (holder) and Baptiste Serin (substitute) for the folding seat of number 3 behind Antoine Dupont and Maxime Lucu. Even Matthieu Jalibert is no longer sure of anything.
If Romain Ntamack appears more than ever as the essential opener of the XV of France, the role of lining, long promised to Bordeaux, is now also coveted by Antoine Hastoy, noticed master at playing Rochelais champions of Europe. Again, the first will start the meeting and the second will finish it. We can multiply the examples of players who can lose everything in Edinburgh, from the second row Cameron Woki to the center Yoram Moefana, via the pillars Demba Bamba and Jean-Baptiste Gros…
For four years, every Tuesday or almost, Fabien Galthié and his assistants meet to establish their “ranking” by position. The next round could prove to be much more disruptive than usual.
LE XV DE FRANCE: 15. Dulin (cap) – 14. Bielle-Biarrey, 13. Gailleton, 12. Moefana, 11. Dumortier – 10. Jalibert, 9. Couilloud – 8. Tanga, 7. Macalou, 6. Boudehent, 5. Chalureau, 4. Woki, 3. Bamba, 2. Bourgarit, 1. Wholesale. Substitutes: 16. Mauvaka, 17. Wardi, 18. Falatea, 19. Willemse, 20. Cretin, 21. Serin, 22. Hastoy, 13. A. Vincent.
