The women's XV of France, which arrived last weekend in New Zealand, where it will compete in the World Cup (October 8-November 12), has planned an "
opposition
" on Saturday against Australia "
to rediscover the taste for combat
" , coach Thomas Darracq said on Tuesday.
With a view to their first match against South Africa, on October 8 (3:15 a.m. Paris time), Les Bleues, in Pool C, will play Saturday "
three blocks of fifteen minutes, in real opposition, on a match
schedule “Explained their coach-trainer during a video conference from Auckland.
The Australians, seventh in the world rankings, will also compete in the World Cup, but in Pool A, alongside New Zealand, Scotland and Wales.
The idea is to "
give play time to all the girls
" in order to "
confront an opponent, get out of the daily opposition between us and have another dimension
", with the presence of one of the designated referees for the World Cup, he said.
“
We had a few days of acclimatization, to try to take this eleven-hour jet lag, find a rhythm of sleep and make sure that each girl can absorb
it,” said Thomas Darracq.
“
Now, we have resumed a progressive rhythm, with daily, even twice-daily sessions like today, weight training, and this until the weekend and the opposition against Australia
”, a he added.
At his side, the third line and captain of the Blue Gaëlle Hermet, injured in a knee during the first preparation match against Italy on September 3 in Nice (21-0 victory), gave reassuring news.
"
I took the field gradually, not yet fully training with my teammates but it bodes well
," she said, adding that the rest of the group had for its part "
reattacked full pot
".
The captain of the Bleues "
has taken the lead compared to the best scenario, we will see her progress every day but our desire is for Gaëlle to regain all her abilities to last because the competition is going to be long
", added Thomas. Darracq.
“
We may not take the risk for the first match, we are really waiting day after day, it is still a little early to make an announcement
”, he concluded.