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"A device at the heart of the action": behind the scenes of the Six Nations Tournament on France 2

2023-02-11T06:33:30.803Z


This Saturday, at 3:15 p.m., the XV of France will face Ireland. Six days earlier, we then followed the teams of La Deux in Rome and discovered the underside of this cathodic sporting event.


“Italy!

Italy!

Italy!”

, chant the supporters from the stands of the Olympic Stadium in Rome.

The heat in the stands complements the deceptive winter sun.

It's hard to imagine such enthusiasm in this country where football is a religion.

The stands are shaking, however, during a rugby match: the first meeting of the Six Nations Tournament for France and Italy.

Today is February 4, 2023 AD.

The whole stadium is occupied by the Romans...

All ?

No !

The irreducible French resist again and again to the fervor of the fans in green, white and red.

Well placed at the edge of the field, some fans of Goscinny and Uderzo dressed in Asterix, Obelix, Abraracourcix and other "ix".

The brave crossed Rome on an electric scooter to reach this stadium, which was 75% full of Italian spectators.

Read alsoThe fabulous destiny of the Six Nations Tournament on television

To escape the fervor of the 35,000 spectators, the sports commentators have taken refuge at the top of the stands.

Except that French and Italians are mixed, and the tension increases throughout the match.

Each key moment, each action in favor of one side or the other dictates a choreography unchanged since the first Olympic Games… The Italians, who have the numerical advantage, dominate the competition in terms of vocal intensity.

But

Matthieu Lartot

, posted a few meters from us, also knows how to do vocals.

In the 66th minute when another Matthieu, Jalibert, scores a try for France, his cry goes through the stadium like a javelin.

Matthieu Lartot and Dimitri Yachvili comment on France-Italy from the Olympic Stadium in Rome Le Figaro

Difficult to imagine that the commentator of France 2 still has energy.

After covering the England - Scotland match the day before in Cardiff, the latter experienced a perilous journey with canceled planes.

Proof that all roads lead to Rome, Matthieu Lartot was able to respond alongside former XV player Dimitri Yachvili.

But to our great surprise, the journalist confided

“not finding the atmosphere in the stadium to be extraordinary, compared to Dublin or Cardiff

 ”, which are certainly the capitals of rugby

.

He will say a posteriori to have had the feeling of having had to

“sometimes restart the machine a little in the hollow moments”

, when the supporters or the match lost in force.

Read also Dimitri Yachvili's TV: "I love the quirky side of "Burger Quiz""

Rugby on France 2 is a well-oiled machine and ready to deal with the unexpected.

Due to an AS Roma match the day before in the Roman stadium, neither the Blues nor the journalists were able to enter the sports arena as they usually do when traveling.

"From a weakness, from a problem, we generated a plan B"

, says Cédric Beaudou, the rugby editor-in-chief on the France TV group, when the players return to the field after half-time.

The teams thus moved their cameras to the hotel of the French team to follow the players as closely as possible.

And try to find other sequences to film, like those of their relocated training in the heart of Rome.

"Fabien Galthié has a very lucid analysis after this not obvious face-to-face"

Cécile Grès comments on her last interview with the coach of the France team and former consultant for France 2.

To cover all the competition, France 2 varies the number of its personnel.

About thirty people for a relocated match, against a hundred during a Parisian face-to-face.

The channel, being the exclusive French broadcaster of the Tournament, has a privileged place to animate the times that punctuate the meeting.

The journalists settle at the edge of the field even before the arrival of the XV of France.

From training, the 80 minutes of the match until the departure of the players, the France 2 team does not decamp.

Only their mobile platform goes back and forth on roller pallets between each aerial socket.

The nightfall and the free fall of the temperatures would never have made Cécile Grès leave her surveillance post, alongside the rugby coaches, even if she

“no longer feels his feet”

.

Just like our system, I like to be at the heart of the action.

I feel the emotions and the issues better”

, deciphers the journalist in charge of the interviews.

France-Ireland: team predictions

Beyond geographical proximity, it is also a real link that has been created between the rugby teams and France 2. Former consultant for the channel, now coach of the XV of France, Fabien Galthié grants several interviews to Cecile Gres.

“Before the game, he always arrives very focused.

At half time we find the right rhythm so that he can respond to us and see his players.

Finally at the last interview, he was relieved because this face-to-face meeting was not easy.

He still has a very lucid analysis of things

, ”acknowledges the specialist.

A somewhat ambiguous report that must be nuanced with “

an obvious distinction”

.

To read alsoCécile Grès, the talented discreet of France Télévisions

“Certainly we spend a lot of time together, and we have established a real bond of trust which has been built over time and which must be maintained”

, she insists.

Same story from

Cédric Beaudou

and Matthieu Lartot.

“We have taken a step back with this new generation.

Previously, we had a different connection with the players.

Today it's a different dynamic, always with good relationships without being intimate for all that”

, indicate the journalists, knowing full well with a smile that

“some sportsmen are waiting for them at the turn to party”.

Never forget that rugby players are bon vivants.

At the final whistle,

a score of 24-29

for France, yet the big favorite of this match, emerges narrowly victorious.

A twist for the experts of France 2.

“We underestimate Italy in rugby but they still have great players.

France was not excellent today but that does not mean that it will not be there next week”

, explains Cédric Beaudou, projecting the future of France within the Tournament.

For the team which has chained 14 consecutive victories to date,

“the match against Ireland will be really decisive”

.

As part of the Tournament, three matches will be broadcast each weekend for five weeks.

This Saturday is played for the XV of France

"the final before the hour"

.

Each journalist has his prognosis.

Vincent Clerc doesn't have time to answer, constantly called out for autographs and photos.

The very noticed Gaul supporters take advantage of their disguises to attract the attention of the former player of the XV, still as popular.

For Cécile Grès, who appreciates

"a little narrow victories because they awaken a form of general attention"

, the result promises to be spectacular, regardless of the outcome.

Matthieu Lartot gets wet and argues that

"if Ireland wins against France, they will even make the Grand Slam"

.

A theory that his partner Dimitri Yachvili does not share.

Cédric Beaudou seems mixed and the debate lasts.

One thing is certain, the bets are on.

The appointment is made at the end.

The first response is France-Ireland, this afternoon from 3:15 p.m. on France 2.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2023-02-11

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