At the Stade de France
What do you remember from this somewhat sluggish success?
Fabien Galthié:
It was hard and undecided until the end.
But it was important to win this first meeting in eight months.
This French team had not played together since March.
We were able to prepare properly for two weeks.
It helped us get through this match where the Argentines were oh so present.
The most important thing is to have replayed, and won, together.
Were you worried about the outcome of this match
At this level, there isn't a match where you go out on the pitch thinking it will be easy. Especially against the Argentines who love to pose problems for the France team. They were very fierce, sometimes mistreated us, prevented the continuity of our actions. If we made imprecisions on the last passes, it is because they imposed an intensity preventing us from concluding our highlights. Afterwards, we take two tries with zero passes because it is also an opportunistic team which seizes the slightest opportunity. What allowed them to believe in a victory. But, for a recovery, we were solid. It was a game that turned out to be very difficult to win, but it was won.
Read alsoThe notes of the Blues after France-Argentina: Flament amazes, Jaminet confirms
How did you judge the performances of Jalibert and Ntamack? And why did you release the latter before playtime?
Depending on the scenarios, we had the possibility of totally changing our team composition, our way of playing, by bringing in Danty in first center. We did it when we felt the need to bring more impact, a physical presence. It is not Romain's responsibility. We were roughed up in the fight and in the ground game. We therefore decided to coach to bring more aggressiveness and strength. We were hurt in the ground game. We played well enough in front of the defense but, as soon as we had to attack it, we were less present in the collision, the game on the man. It was more complicated. But we still have some highlights, we were able to register two tries to win the match. It was essential against a team that has played 9 matches since mid-June.A team that has habits when, for us, it was a reunion ... And the Argentines did not get into our 22-meter ball in hand, but on a counter, on an aerial duel and on penalties. Our defense has not suffered. We were good in this area.
What did you think of Melvyn Jaminet's performance?
It is in the performance of the team.
I cannot say that a player has been above or below.
The 22 players who took part were all roughly on the same level of performance…
And that of Thibaut Flament, who honored his first selection?
He delivered a match in the image of the team, allowed us to win.
It is a discovery for him and it is good.
You pointed out the importance of finishers before this match. Are you satisfied ?
Yes, since there is victory.
This is the mission.
It has been fulfilled.
And well filled.
How do you see the rest of the tour?
It's a very difficult tour.
We started against the best Latins, who know how to play and had three months of competition in the engine.
Faced with a rugby that poses problems for us.
Georgia, in another way, will also be a lot of combat, of confrontation.
Most play in France and will seek the challenge.
We will prepare for this match.
We will talk about the third in due course (
against the All Blacks
).
Interview at a press conference