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Rugby 7: the Blues on a mission to land the last ticket for Tokyo

2021-06-21T05:06:52.717Z


To return to the Olympics, the French team at 7 must win the Olympic qualifying tournament which is being held this weekend in Monaco.


The Olympics in the crosshairs.

To get his ticket to Tokyo and participate in the Olympics for the second Olympiad in a row, “France 7” has no room for error.

He will absolutely have to win the Olympic qualifying tournament which is being held on Saturday and Sunday at the Louis-II stadium in Monaco.

“The training week went very well,” emphasizes Jérôme Daret, the French coach.

There was a lot of energy, a very good state of mind, concentration.

The group has built things well.

I can't wait to be there and do battle.

This is an important step to go for a medal.

The team has been preparing for this for a year. ”

The tile for Pierre-Gilles Lakafia

The only downside: Pierre-Gilles Lakafia (34), one of the group's executives, injured his thigh and had to forfeit this last-chance TQO. “When we lose a player, it's always annoying but it's been four years that we built our collective strength. There is no worry about it, no trauma. On the contrary, it mobilizes the staff and the players even more, ”suggests Jérôme Daret.

Because the France team, sixth in the last world circuit before the end of the competitions, has some certainties.

On his game, his state of mind and his strengths.

With some noticeable performances.

The Blues had indeed climbed to the final of the Vancouver and Hong Kong tournaments in 2019, then that of Hamilton in 2020. They were also third in Cape Town in 2019. “Of all the nations present this weekend, we were the top ranked team on the world tour last year.

So we can say that we are favorites.

We are ready for that ”, insists the former quinzist Marvin O'Connor, passed by Grenoble, Bayonne, Montpellier and the Stade Français.

It is legitimate that Gabin (Villière) is with us to participate in the adventure, he has been involved in the Olympic project from the start

Jerome Daret

In their quest for the last ticket for the Tokyo Games, the "septists" tricolor record a return of weight, that of Gabin Villière, former star at 7, elected best player of the Hong Kong Tournament before shining with Toulon and the XV of France . The elimination of the RCT in the race for the final stages of the championship finally made the business of "France 7". “All that was off the shelves with the Top 14 and Toulon. Finally, in a few days, with the rather early end of the RCT season, I switched ... I have always been in contact with the French team at 7, the opportunity presented itself and voila! It's good, it's nice to find this group, this framework: I was in contact with the guys, I had crossed them in Marcoussis ... Everything is being remade quite naturally ”, tells thewinger in red helmet.

Jérôme Daret is obviously delighted with the return of this nugget: “It is legitimate for Gabin to be with us to participate in the adventure, he has been involved in the Olympic project from the start.

The benchmarks, he has them.

He had to dust off a bit but he adapts very quickly.

He is a charming boy who gets along with everyone.

It's good that a player like him and Jean-Pascal Barraque (Clermont player), who knew the XV of France, are joining us.

It puts pressure on our opponents.

In the longer term, if we pass this step, it will show other nations that we are arriving in Tokyo with ambitions and that we will not go to Japan just to participate. ”

Our biggest opponent will be us.

If we manage to put our game down, we won't be able to stop us

Stephen parez

In Monaco, the France team inherited a more than lenient draw for the group stage. The Blues will first have to get rid of Hong Kong, Chile, Uganda and Jamaica. Largely within their reach. “At 7, you need experience and stability. Too many changes can make you dive in, explains Jérôme Daret. I'm not worried. The team now has know-how to draw on. We know what to expect. ” The rest will inevitably be much more intense with confrontations to come against the nations of the other part of the table, which includes Ireland, Mexico, Samoa, Tonga and Zimbabwe. A priori, the Irish are the most devious opponents but "we know that we can beat them, itarrived several times on the world circuit and I do not remember that we lost against them, "says Marvin O'Connor.

Cautious but nevertheless on their strength, the Blues of 7 expect this weekend to "a psychological war", according to O'Connor. “Our coach places a lot of emphasis on managing our emotions. They will be severely tested, he warns. It will take a strong mind to prove that we deserve our place at the Olympics. " His teammate Stephen Parez goes further: “Our biggest opponent will be us. If we manage to put our game down, we will not be able to stop us. " False step prohibited therefore. Before trying to do better than 7th place (out of 12 teams) won in Rio in 2016.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2021-06-21

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