It's a bubble of oxygen that they really need now.
Because the Blues are in apnea.
Since the Covid-19 English variant version infiltrated Marcoussis, within their fortress of Essonne, apparently poorly defended from a health point of view, they have lived like the spectators of a film that would drive people crazy its main players.
They should have faced the Scots this Sunday at the Stade de France on the Grand Slam road, they will do so at best at the end of March if all parties agree.
Instead, they are locked away at home, hoping not to infect their loved ones for the twelve cases declared positive.
Others pray to stay negative.
All ruminate, grumble, and what do they see?
Let it defeat severe at the head of the Federation.
Its president Bernard Laporte gets confused, loses his temper, threatens the theme: the fault does not come from us, do not touch Fabien Galthié.
The lightness of his coach, released the week leading to Ireland-France, on February 14, to breathe an air different from that of Essonne, are however at the center of questions.
"Now, it will be difficult to restore confidence"
“They are chomping at the bit,” says a player's relative.
They live badly this quarantine.
They have a grudge against Galthié.
Most importantly, they don't understand why they were treated like kids.
They even took a Laporte blower on Friday morning before leaving Marcoussis.
He brought them together and told them that they had no interest in opening their mouths, that Fabien would stay until the World Cup in 2023 anyway, but that for them it was not safe.
"
The scene struck more than one.
“It's crazy, but what happened to him?” Protests a member of the Federation.
He pretended they were responsible for this situation.
He infantilized them, threatened them.
Now it's going to be hard to rebuild confidence.
Laporte attacks to defend Galthié.
And it goes all over the place.
“Everything was decided with the medical unit, he defended this Sunday evening on Stage 2, taking refuge in the credibility of professors Roger Salomon and Eric Caumes.
No risk does not exist.
There is a protocol.
I'm waiting for the report to find out if people have made mistakes.
"
The investigation, carried out by the FFR itself at the request of the ministry, already seems oriented.
Les Bleus du 7, who came to train with the XV of France, are designated as ideal culprits even if the convolutions to explain how they would have contaminated Fabien Galthié long before his players - and despite negative tests in addition - are shaping up to be smokers .
Laporte sweeps away everything else.
"Rumors," he says.
The hasty and contradictory interventions of his vice-president Serge Simon, pointing to the anonymous physical trainer initially presented as "patient zero", did not appear inappropriate according to him.
"We have the impression that they do not tell us everything"
“It would have been better to have an independent investigation, estimated in our columns opposing Florian Grill, member of the executive committee and defeated in the election for the presidency of the FFR in October.
There, we have the impression that they do not tell us everything.
"If there is a lie, there must be sanctions," adds Jean-Claude Skrela, former coach (1995-1999), elected opposition member of the FFR executive committee.
The Minister for Sports, she put pressure on Bernard Laporte.
"I will wait to see his result in the middle of the week
(Editor's note: Tuesday)
, reacted Roxana Maracineanu this Sunday evening on RTL.
It is not for me to give sanctions, but the FFR must position itself.
You have to live up to the responsibilities you have.
The government cannot be behind every player, behind every coach.
If I had not insisted in the Council of Ministers, there might not be a Tournament for the France team.
"
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A tournament off to a good start for the Blues, winners in Italy (50-10) and Ireland (15-13).
France has even become the third nation in the world rankings behind South Africa and New Zealand.
The misconduct, the smoke screens and the outbursts that shake this little tricolor world will they get the better of this beautiful picture?
