The Wales-France distance match has already started. And the Welsh were the first to draw. Through the mouth of captain Alun Wyn Jones, the next opponent of the XV of France was worried about the future attitude of the French pack in melee closed this Saturday at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff (5:45 pm). "We know they will strike, chase and cheat. This is something that we are fully aware of and that we will have to face that day. They will want to push before the introduction and disturb us. We will have to focus on ourselves, cancel their indiscipline and hope that they will not get away with it. "
After the announcement of the starting XV this Thursday in Marcoussis, the general manager of the XV of France Raphaël Ibanez, former captain of the Blues (68 selections) went on the offensive. “It is a rude and puerile attack from another age. We have referents, these are the tournament referees with whom we work well, very intelligently. An opponent coach or player is not our referent. Seeing them being so afraid makes us smile. "
"There is no room for this kind of remarks"
The term cheater is struggling to get on the French side but refers to the endless match of March 2017 at the Stade de France (20-18). At the end of a substantial additional time, during which France had played with the rules of the concussion protocol to replace Atonio by Slimani more efficient in melee, the Blues had won. This replacement for which France had also received a posteriori a reprimand from the international federation was never understood by the Welsh.
"It's a lack of respect for our fray, a lack of respect for our team, a lack of respect for French rugby but also for our nation. This is the Six Nations Tournament and, in the Six Nations Tournament, there is no room for this kind of remarks, ”replied French coach Fabien Galthié overall. Before being more specific. “Their scrum, over their last two matches ( Editor's note: Italy and Ireland ), has fallen to the ground thirteen times. She was punished six times. We have been punished four times. There, ”retorted Galthié.
Stung to the heart, the duo at the head of the France team then allowed themselves to point the finger at the small arrangements of Welsh rugby with the rules of the concussion protocol, intended to protect the players in the event of repeated shocks to the head . "We could ask ourselves about the fate reserved for their scrum half ( Editor's note: Dan Biggar ), which multiplies the knockouts, since the World Cup and still passes the concussion protocols, which are managed by the Welsh Federation "Said Ibanez.