This is called coming in for after-sales service.
In the auditorium of a training center in Marcoussis surrounded by fog on this bank holiday, the backs coach of the XV of France Laurent Labit came to defend the association between Matthieu Jalibert and Romain Ntamack, made frustrating during the first match of the autumn tour against Argentina (29-20) on Saturday.
A test completed by the exit of the Toulousain shifted to the post of three-quarter center in the 54th minute, which should not prevent the staff from retrying the experience on Sunday (2 p.m.) against Georgia.
How did you judge the association between Matthieu Jalibert and Romain Ntamack against Argentina?
LAURENT LABIT.
At the end of the match, we were a little bitter about what we had worked for two weeks and failed to put in place on the pitch at times.
We had a lot of expectations, and we struggled to find each other, and for this connection, this very fusion that we had between them during our sessions, to happen.
Now, it was a difficult game, and nothing tells us that playing with two real centers, we would have done better.
We also know that it is not on a match, in this case over fifty minutes, that we were going to make a perfect copy.
The adversary is working, and also wanted to hinder us on this point.
What was the problem?
It's a whole.
It also requires the players around them to take on additional tasks in order to have Matthieu and Romain on their feet as often as possible to ensure our game. It requires work, even if we tried to create match conditions. in training.
During the sessions, some players were asked to come and slow the ball exits and hinder the deployment of this game.
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Romain is a competitor and he knows the confidence that has been placed in him since the World Cup in Japan.
How was Romain Ntamack after the meeting?
At the end of the match, he was marked because he knew that we had not been able to put him in the conditions that we wanted.
But he is a competitor, and he knows the confidence that we have placed in him since the World Cup in Japan in 2019. We discussed it, as we spoke with Matthieu about certain choices that we could have made. to be better.
The responsibility is shared, it is not fair to Romain.
How do you keep him from feeling sacrificed by being out of step with his usual job?
You say that.
He is not sacrificed at all.
We discussed this option with him long before, we shared in order to be efficient, just as we were transparent with you because our sessions are open.
He is a player to be relied on, who excels at the opening.
If we put it in the center, it is not to sacrifice it.
Read alsoXV of France: Romain Ntamack is "a bit of a cuckold in history", according to Richard Dourthe
This association, could you give it up if it doesn't work on this tour?
No.
It is something that we had to watch.
We have in sight a competition in two years (Editor's note: the World Cup in France in 2023) that we will play with an imposed workforce.
You will need players who can work on multiple workstations and manage different systems.
This is also why we have already tested Gaël Fickou on the wing.
We would also have put Arthur Vincent as a winger if he had been with us.
You have to give yourself time, it's not in a match that you will say "it's great" or "we stop".
How would an association that works between the two translate?
That we have them as much as possible in the service of the game, and therefore that they are on their feet.
If we play with them, it's so that they lead our game, not that they spend their time with their heads in the rucks, even if Romain must be there a bit as a center and be more efficient there than on Saturday.
They must adapt, live and relive moments together.
