On the other side of the screen, for the video conference of the XV of France from their hotel in Nice, the smiles suggest that the situation is not so badly experienced.
There would be reasons, however, to lack serenity.
The threat of Covid-19 has been hovering since Stade Toulousain revealed that they had three positive players in their squad, probably infected last Saturday during the match against Agen.
Who reported cases to the English variant.
With four Toulouse players in their ranks (who were isolated at the start of the week, before resuming training after a first negative test), the Blues would have something to tremble.
It doesn't seem to be.
The tests passed in the middle of the week came back negative and the results of those carried out again this Sunday are eagerly awaited.
For definitive relief if they prove negative again given the incubation period (seven days).
"
We don't want to be the team affected by the Covid which would endanger the Tournament
"
Paul Willemse
“There is no apprehension, assures the Bordelais Cameron Woki.
We are tested several times a week. ”
“Three times a week,” explains the Montpellier resident Paul Willemse.
We do everything to stay within the rules.
It is our responsibility.
We do not want to be the team affected by the Covid which would endanger the Tournament.
We want to play this competition.
We're not taking any risks.
We are in a health bubble.
You cannot leave the hotel, except for training »
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English variant, Toulouse symptoms, fear on the Top 14… and the XV of France
At the risk of finding the time long, locked in the hotel, privatized for the Blues, with a view of the Mediterranean?
"We are not Nice to play tourists and visit the city, replies Cameron Woki.
We are here to prepare for the Tournament.
So it doesn't bother us to be stranded at the hotel. ”
The third-line of the UBB also ensures that the Blues do not have time to be bored.
“The workloads are important.
So there is a lot of time spent on care and rest.
Otherwise, there is always something to do.
The Federation has put at our disposal a games room so that we can have fun.
We play cards, board games, we chat.
We have fun together. ”
Louis Carbonel's accomplice smile.
"Me, I organize the card games", specifies the young Toulon opener.
"
If we start to think that at 31 it's taken for granted… It's really not the mentality of this group
"
Gabin Villiere
Another change, the group, as expected, was officially closed to 31 members this Saturday.
Three players will join the 28 who remained in Nice on Sunday and, except for injuries, the squad will not move until February 15, the day after the second match of the XV of France against Ireland in Dublin.
Does this new gauge disrupt the holding of high-intensity training for which the French staff wanted 42 players?
“31 that's enough to make good oppositions, assures Gabin Villière.
And then the 7 is with us to support us.
We do beautiful and big training sessions.
Going to 31 does not change our preparation and our focus. ”
“We continue to work well, confirms Cameron Woki.
The France 7 team fills the absences. "
In Nice, the training of the Blues is rich and varied.
#XVdeFrance
In addition to high intensity sessions, the staff have a variety of training sessions that they adapt according to the objectives of the week and the future opponent!
Focus today on the "Fitness Game"
- France Rugby (@FranceRugby) January 30, 2021
Knowing that the group is closed, that there is no longer the sword of Damocles to be sent back to his club, does not change anything either, assures the RCT winger.
“We stay in our place, focused, to pull the group up.
If we start to think that at 31 it's a given… It's really not the mentality of this group.
We remain united, we are working to put even more intensity, to produce even more efforts. "
Each according to his means at the time, however.
"READ ALSO -
XV of France: the Blues not all in their best form
At the beginning of the week, Thibault Giroud, the chief physical trainer of the XV of France, had recognized that the states of form were disparate, between players who had played a lot, others who had seen matches canceled because of Covid-19 and some, finally, who had been deprived of training with their clubs for health reasons.
“Not everyone can do all the sessions,” confirms Louis Carbonel.
There are different workloads for players depending on the number of matches postponed.
But that doesn't bother us too much.
We all give our all. ”
Make the most of the short moments spent outdoors before being locked in their hotel again.
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XV of France: how the "ultra-strict" health bubble works in Nice
