“The contacts stung a bit, they have guys who are 30 kg heavier than us.
But we still defended ourselves well to make them work.
“Saturday night, it was opposition to training for Marvin O'Connor and the entire French rugby sevens team.
But not against just anyone.
The former Stade Français player and his partners rubbed shoulders with their cousins from the XV, like them in a training camp on the shores of the Mediterranean, in Nice.
Almost banal in the life of Fabien Galthié's men.
For a year, the coach of the Blues and his staff have been inviting opponents in turn to play the sparring partners of their group: players of the VII therefore, but also hopes or the military France team.
Last find of the tricolor management for the start of this Nice internship: bring in five "partners", elements that come from a club that does not have more than one player already present in the selection.
One way to find the group of 42 from the beginning of the Galthié era, abolished by the new agreement between the League and the Federation.
"It makes it possible to complete the group and to put into training what we do in matches on the weekend", supports hooker Pierre Bourgarit.
Their main job?
Help the Blues to revise their ranges.
"It allows their players to work with the same indications against a common opponent," said the former international and U21 manager of Stade Français, Pascal Papé.
"There is a lot of rhythm, our players are at 100%"
At the beginning of March, his hopes arose in Marcoussis, a few weeks after those of Massy, to break in the Blues before their trip to Scotland.
“We were there to play sparring partners, in very detailed oppositions.
There is a lot of rhythm, our players send each other 100%, underlines the former second row.
They also send each other, but with a little more restraint.
"
It's gone for the directed opposition of our HOPES against the XV OF FRANCE !!
🇫🇷💙🖤 @ FranceRugby @SixNations_FR ALLEZ LES BLEUS pic.twitter.com/H2iptWjbJN
- Rugby Club Massy Essonne (@ RCME91) February 7, 2020
“We're going to put on defense so that they can prepare their various attacks,” describes Marvin O'Connor.
These are very precise sequences.
They announce their movements, and we have to try to disrupt them.
As players of the VII, we bring a unstructured side, with a lot of movement, when it's our turn to attack.
"
Health measures will force the Blues
To ensure a constant rhythm, Fabien Galthié and his assistants deploy around the field and immediately return the ball if it leaves the field.
“These are very demanding oppositions,” says Marvin O'Connor.
“The staff had prepared a session on the phases of possession and loss of the ball, describes Papé.
Our players were delighted, they rubbed shoulders well.
And were able to see what separated them from that level.
"
READ ALSO>
The high intensity training sessions of the Blues
But no question for the hopes of the Stade Français to repeat the experience this winter at Marcoussis.
Health constraints forced the FFR to limit the group to 31 elements for the entire Tournament in order to avoid the comings and goings of external players and limit the risks of contamination of the French group.
Present in the Nice bubble, the players of the VII were able to come and help out before the trip to Italy on Saturday for the launch of the Tournament, but then have their own deadlines to prepare.
“We will adapt, slips the coach of the attack, Laurent Labit.
Even if you have to work with fewer players than expected.
»And do without the precious sparring partners.