Jean Dujardin at the helm, 200 extras in the arena, the Patrouille de France in the sky, and 80,000 people in the stadium and millions in front of their televisions to watch the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup. And during this time, the main actors of this Friday evening at the Stade de France, we are obviously talking about the players of the XV of France and the All Blacks, will wait their turn in the passageways of the enclosure of Saint-Denis.
“We are not going to scatter, we will be locked up”, smiles the coach of the Blues Fabien Galthié, launched on the preparation of this pre-match after revealing his starting XV Wednesday noon. After the festivities and once the protective tarpaulin has been removed from the lawn, his men will only have a short period of time to warm up on the lawn. “World Rugby (the international federation) gave 22 minutes, we hope 24, continues the boss of the tricolors. But against Australia, we prepared in 22 minutes. »
“I hope that the timing of the ceremony will be respected”
Because in their attention to detail and their extreme meticulousness, the staff of the Blues imposed on the players on deck ten days ago for the final preparation match against the Wallabies to put themselves in the opening match configuration. History not to grope on D-Day. “It will be a little shorter for the scorers and those who are used to playing on foot, believes the back of the XV of France, Thomas Ramos. But we did the same protocol against Australia, with a longer and more dynamic warm-up in the locker room. We will have to be more precise from the moment we are on the ground. »
The XV of France, considered Friday as the “visiting” team and which will play in white, will not be in its traditional locker room. But the Blues will have “a fairly comfortable, large enough space”, according to Galthié to start sweating in the bowels of the enclosure before heading out onto the lawn for the “official” warm-up.
“It was well managed against Australia, reassures Thomas Ramos. Now, I hope that the timing of the ceremony will be respected to have the time given to prepare. “And not to weigh down the interest of this dress rehearsal against the Australians.
