By the editorial staff
Posted 2 hours ago, Just Updated
Thibault Giroud, the performance director of the XV of France. GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP
The manager of the physical preparation of the Blues defends his working methods, after the injuries of Ntamack and Baille.
Since the injuries of Romain Ntamack (rupture of the cruciate ligaments of the knee) and Cyril Baille (calf, absent another 4 weeks), criticism has emerged on the physical preparation of the Blues before the World Cup (September 8-October 28 ). Thibault Giroud, the performance director of the XV of France, returned, in the columns of The Team , on his reviews and how he prepares players for the global fixture.
«The first thing I told you at the beginning of July was that there will be injuries. And it’s not over, there will still be injuries, he thunders. It’s part of professional rugby. There has been a lot of controversy in recent weeks about the preparation.“Adding that these criticisms are recurrent, whatever happens:”It’s like every four years, whatever you do in the preparation there is controversy, either it is too hard, not good enough or too easy. I was never happy that there were no injuries after the internship in Monaco because I knew very well that there would be injuries. We’ve always said it.»
“We can’t get guys out of formaldehyde a week before the Blacks”
According to the future physical trainer of the Bordeaux-Bègles Union (after the World Cup), “if we talk about playing time, for South Africa and New Zealand, we are at 127 minutes on average for forwards and 152 for three-quarters. We, in the France team, are at 86 and 87. We have listed these four matches for each player. And no one was going to play all four.»
You are from Cingler: «You can’t do stick twirling for eight weeks, take the guys out of formaldehyde a week before the Blacks and tell yourself that the guys are going to be good because we put them on the field. It does not exist. If everyone does it, there’s a reason.” Thibault Giroud adds that the Blues have “not played the Rugby Championship like the teams from the South. There is still New Zealand – South Africa this weekend, it’s going to hit. Both teams are not going to play pushing the buggy.»
