Seven months of arrest, coerced and forced.
The Blues had left on March 8, after a defeat in Edinburgh against Scotland (28-17), spoiling the promises glimpsed at the start of the last Six Nations Tournament.
The health crisis has passed by there, the XV of France - which could not compete for its summer tour - finally sees the end of this long tunnel of inactivity.
“We are going to experience the emotions of the field again, it's back to the game. The sanitary conditions are not preventing us from moving forward.
Nothing slowed down the XV of France ”, insisted the French manager, Raphaël Ibanez, when announcing the group of 31 players (and not 42 as at the beginning of the year) who will face in a preparation match the country of Wales, October 24, then Ireland, a week later, for the last match of the 2020 edition of the Tournament.
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Galthié:" We live with the unforeseen, chaos "
The staff of the XV of France, which has the 2023 World Cup in France in its sights, resumed its march forward.
For coach Fabien Galthié, things have not changed.
They have just been paused.
“It's a continuation of the seven weeks we have already spent together.
It is true that there was a big hole which is part of the hazard with which we have to live.
We live with the unexpected.
Sometimes we talk about chaos.
It's one of the things you have to try to master.
"
Despite the absence of matches, Galthié and his assistants have not been idle.
“We have increased the number of individual interviews and very rich exchanges with the Top 14 managers, ie more than 290 meetings.
Because the France team also belongs to club managers, ”recalls Ibanez.
The desperate news of French rugby being focused on the quarrel between the Federation and the League, about the provision of internationals.
"With the players, we always prepare for the worst scenarios, in training, during the week"
Fabien Galthie
The FFR, which relies on World Rugby's decision to increase the length of the international window in the fall, has six games to play.
The LNR only wants to hear about five, whereas the agreement between the two authorities normally only provides for three.
Inextricable.
A last attempt at conciliation failed on Wednesday.
The Council of State, requested by the League, should decide by the end of the week.
The Blues will only have five days - and one real training - to prepare for the reception of the XV du Leek.
Galthié made against bad luck a good heart: “With the players, we always prepare for the worst scenarios, in training, during the week.
And in fact, the answer that the staff must give to the players is: anyone, anytime, anywhere, you have to be ready.
" Somehow…
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The Federation and the League in an impasse, the Council of State will decide
