Everything was calm. Probably too much for the taste of the Blues coach. Arriving at the training ground at the Parc stadium in Rueil-Malmaison this Sunday morning just before his players, Fabien Galthié began by observing the team which was to serve as opposition to the XV of France: the Espoirs du Stade Français. Very quickly, the coach showed himself annoyed, raising his voice and dispensing his orders to the young Parisian players. Words which were captured by RMC cameras. “Put me the best players as receivers, stop putting painters as receivers,” said Galthié. Give me the guys who are awake, not the ones who are sleeping… A clever guy, not a penguin. »
???????? “Put me the best players, not the painters! Come on, come on, come on! Quick, quick, quick!”
???????????? Fabien Galthié’s very muscular speech to the young people from Stade Français who came to number in training during an opposition against the XV of France. pic.twitter.com/zcVQRViaM4
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) September 17, 2023
The coach perhaps wanted to give a boost to a training session which started a little too sluggishly for his liking. After the disappointing performance last Thursday against Uruguay in Villeneuve-d’Ascq (27-12), the French XV must indeed show a completely different face this Thursday evening (9 p.m.) in Marseille against Namibia. According to l’Equipe, the federation’s communications department made it clear that it was a joke towards the young players at Stade Français.
These training sessions with opposition are usual. They are used to prepare for high intensity and to fine-tune settings. For this, the XV of France very often calls on Espoirs teams. Facing the young players from Stade Français, the Blues put their best foot forward, rehearsing their ranges one last time before heading to their new base camp in Aix-en-Provence in the evening. Antoine Dupont, Matthieu Jalibert, Gaël Fickou and most of the winners of the All Blacks (27-13) on September 8 were on the pitch with the holders’ vests. With them, Anthony Jelonch, returned to the field against Uruguay, Jonathan Danty and Cyril Baille, both now fit to face Namibia, and Louis Bielle-Biarrey, preferred to Gabin Villière.
