The coach of the French XV Fabien Galthié came to a press conference to speak about the great match of the Blues against the English (25-13), which offers a historic 10th Grand Slam to France. Just before celebrating this great victory with his group.
How is the atmosphere in the locker room this evening?
FABIEN GALTHIÉ. There are a lot of people, for example soldiers from the foreign legion with whom we launched the competition (the Blues did an internship before the Tournament in Carpiagne in a legion camp). It’s quiet, there’s also a lot of fatigue. It’s happy and peaceful… for now (smile). We just can’t wait to celebrate together. There we’re not doing a backflip, we’re serious because we’re at a press conference. But maybe after…
How do you analyze this match against the English, with some difficult moments?
Today was a little different, there was a lot of tension, linked to waiting, the importance of the deadline. It was sublimely tense, wonderfully tense. We had not experienced this type of match before, closed, with a lot at stake on each action, with each decision that could influence the match. It was a first unknown experience for us which will make us grow.
Were you worried when England scored their try and came back to five points?
The challenge was to get ahead of them to put them back a little further, but they managed to get back to 5 points. We have already experienced it in all the big matches, this scenario was similar to that against the All Blacks, Ireland, Wales last week… We returned to these maximum intensity scenarios, where there was The stakes were on every possession, on every defensive move… All the choices counted, it was intense.
What can this trophy bring you in view of the 2023 World Cup?
He brings us a lot of joy. When you win, it’s because you make the right choices, that you work well, that you have chosen the right players. We have exceeded 75% of victories, we are going to become number 2 in the world, we are on the right path, with a team that is still young and which will improve. Today, we have a team with an average age of under 26, with an average of 23 caps. We knew how to play this match despite this tension which jumped out at us. Yet we had prepared for it, we had tried to avoid these feelings which could be harmful. In the end you have to experience these finals to grow, to have this common experience.
You won the Grand Slam as captain in 2002, today as coach. Are the feelings different?
The difference is 20 years. It’s a life, a long road that you don’t expect. There is no chance either, character makes the path, the path makes destiny. 20 years ago it was daylight, it was a Sunday, the weather was nice. It was against Ireland, it was different. It’s great to still experience this feeling with these guys. But they are the ones on the pitch, I am in the stands. It’s different.
