Deprived of most of its best elements and its five finalists who will only apply for next weekend, the XV of France will be able to gauge itself against the All Blacks in a double-edged duel, this Saturday, July 5 in Dunedin (9:05 am), on the occasion of the first of its three Test-Matchs planned in New Zealand.
The luck of a life. Few Blues have had the opportunity to face the All Blacks, which is more on their land with the share of myth that goes with it, in this country where rugby is king. The overhaul of the international calendar does not help – creation of a nations cup in the years pairs with three meetings in three different countries of the southern hemisphere in July -, there will be a tour of this type only once every four years (2029, 2033 …).
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Few will have a new chance to put the crampons on it (the last dates back to 2018 with Bourgarit, Fickou and Slimani), if New Zealand again agrees to invite France. Because in view of the controversy over the supposed lack of respect to send this experimental group (less than 10 selections of average, half of the unpacked players, 8 novices and only 5 players to more than 20 selections for the first test), amputated of most of its best assets, rinsed by an extension season (good will this winter, all apply before being ultimately caught up in reality) Ireland, to name that they would not be favored in the future.
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Garthié: “We can’t do better”
“We cannot do better,” admitted this week Fabien Galkié, including criticism about this distorted poster. In an overloaded calendar where the interests of clubs – all the more in France where the Top 14 is a reference in terms of economy – collide with those of federations with often exsangues, the best French players are therefore not about to tu their dreams of a month in July rather than at the beach. Unless, and no doubt we are utopian, to lift the hand one day and to also consent to financial efforts to play less …
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In the meantime, the Bluusaille is delighted, motivated as never and well decided to prove its value. “On the networks, the New Zealanders say they are disappointed that there are changes in the workforce, poses Gaëtan Barlot, now ex-Tailor of the CO. But we, we do not take too much account, because it’s 3-4 years, on summer tours, that […] It is even a kind of motivation to be present and not say that we are below. “
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“The French are never as dangerous as when they are underestimated, right?”
Except that if the Blues intend to activate this lever, they will quickly be faced with the fact that Australia, Japan and Argentina, their last three summer opponents, were not the level of these New Zealanders. And that the opportunity of a career can quickly turn into a poisoned gift with a nightmare. Because on paper, we are closer to a black tide than a magic trick signed Garthié.
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Even if Scott Robertson, the coach of the Blacks, remains on his guard: “The French are never as dangerous as when we underestimate them, right? After, they revolt and we will find themselves facing a fierce French team. We are still beating French. I expect everything with them.” A state of mind summarized in two sentences by Fickou: “We have nothing to lose. We have everything to gain.”
