In Marcoussis (with David Reyrat)
They have, dozens of times, worn the jersey of the XV of France together.
Raphaël Ibanez was the hooker and captain of the XV of France during the legendary match against the All Blacks in the semi-final of the 1999 World Cup. Fabien Galthié was the scrum half.
It was he who had kicked the kick to follow the rebound captured in full caprice by Christophe Dominici who, with a dazzling hook had escaped Andy Mehrtens to finish his race in the All Blacks' in-goal, launch the revolt, the crazy rise of the Blues.
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Today respectively manager and coach of the XV of France, the two former teammates of the winger tragically disappeared on Tuesday, have found the strength to appear in front of the journalists present at Marcoussis, the training camp where the Habs are preparing for the meeting against Italy, Saturday night at the Stade de France.
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In images, in pictures
The voice completely tied, Fabien Galthié was the first to speak briefly.
“We think very strongly of his family, his relatives, the clubs where he played, Solliès-Pont, Toulon, the Stade Français, all his friends, all the supporters.
All rugby supporters, of the France team.
All the people who love our sport.
And Saturday, of course, we will try to pay tribute to him (
Saturday against Italy, Editor's note
). ”
Galthié was then Christophe Dominici's coach at the Stade Français.
Present by his side to celebrate his last match in June 2008.
"
Christophe is above all our friend
"
Raphael Ibanez
On the verge of tears, Raphaël Ibanez recounted the circumstances in which he and the Blues learned the unbearable announcement of the death of Christophe Dominici.
“We were in a working session this afternoon with the players of the XV of France, when Bernard Laporte informed us of this terrible news.
It's a shock.
We are very sad, confided the one who was its captain for ten years.
Christophe "Domi" is a legend of our sport.
He wore the blue jersey with so much energy, so much passion.
Christophe is above all our friend.
We experienced great and beautiful emotions together on the pitch but, above all, as a team with him. ”
A little later, the players scheduled for the press briefing, which was almost canceled due to the shock, also spoke about the one who was their great former.
"It reminds me of childhood memories," said Brice Dulin, the back of Stade Rochelais.
This is the period when we start to watch rugby, the French team, the Stade Toulousain-Stade Français derbies.
At the time, we talked a lot about him because he scored a lot of tries.
I remember the one against the All Blacks.
These are childhood memories, where we necessarily identify with players.
I am very saddened by this news.
It's all my childhood.
It feels weird… ”
"
French rugby is in mourning
"
Killian Geraci
The very young Matthis Lebel, who plays in the same position as "Domi", winger, at Stade Toulousain, inevitably has fewer memories.
“In 1999, I was not born.
But I remember the flashes he was able to make throughout his career.
I watched the video against the All Blacks several times (in 1999).
It is a test that marked French rugby. ”
An opinion shared by Killian Geraci, also U-20 world champion. “He is a player who left his mark on French rugby, who won five French league titles.
He did feats that were quite atypical.
The semi-final of 1999, I was not born.
But it marked the spirits.
», Underlined the young second-row from Lyon.
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"Genie", "little wizard", "cowboy": the rugby family pays tribute to Christophe Dominici, deceased