We take the same, and we hope to start again.
Fabien Galthié announced Thursday a team composition to face South Africa on Saturday (9 p.m.) in Marseille unchanged among the holders compared to the victorious formation of Australe on the wire (30-29) last weekend .
A choice of the staff assumed in the name of continuity in this autumn tour less than a year from the World Cup in France and claimed as and when the justifications of the boss of the Blues in this press conference.
Jonathan Danty, young titular dad
An entire match against the Wallabies, then by car to La Rochelle to attend the birth of his son Gabriel, who arrived overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Despite this week of disturbed training, Jonathan Danty will start the match against the Springboks alongside Gaël Fickou in the center.
Indispensable for a year, the former Stade Français player will join the Blues on Friday in Marseille, where his mass (1.81 m, 110 kilos) will be very appreciated against the massive world champions.
“We weighed the pros and cons, recognizes Fabien Galthié.
Jo played the first and second week of preparation, he played 80 minutes against Australia where he scratched the last ball and possession.
There, he made the decision to join us.
This week, he was sent documents on the game project and Thibault Giroud (Editor's note: the physical trainer of the Blues) sent instructions for him to prepare properly.
»
“I experienced this situation in 2001 when my son was born just after a victory against Australia, continues the coach.
This is the story of a father who welcomes his first child.
It gives incredible strength, it increases it tenfold.
»
Strong on the bench
“Lightness” in front of the muscles?
By aligning Cameron Woki and Thibaud Flament from the second line, two versatile players capable of playing in the third line, the staff of the Blues is betting not to attack the heavy pack of the Springboks from the front.
A choice linked to the absence of Paul Willemse, a South African by birth bruised to miss this appointment due to injury, but that the tricolor coaches allow themselves the possibility of adjusting with Romain Taofifenua and Bastien Chalureau, more compact post specialists on the bench.
“We have players (Editor’s note: Woki and Flament) capable of taking a step back, that gives options depending on how things are going, explains Fabien Galthié.
We'll have a solid front five to start the game, and another solid front five to end it.
“And the throwing coach, confident: “Saturday, we are going to shoot first”.
Two rookies on the bench
For a first, it's a great first.
The left pillar of La Rochelle Reda Wardi and the Montpellier Bastien Chalureau, champion of France in June, should start in the tricolor jersey at 27 and 30 respectively.
The first could have discovered the France team a week ago, but the red taken against Toulouse in the Top 14 on October 23 kept him away from the field for three weeks.
The second, brilliant with the Hérault club last season, takes advantage of the absences of Willemse, but also Killian Geraci to make his mark.
“We did not call him by chance, he is a player we have been following for two years.
Bastien Chalureau has transformed, taken on a dimension that allowed him to come and get this jersey, underlines Galthié.
Reda Wardi, these are his performances with La Rochelle, he cut himself an XL suit on the left side.
We did not hesitate to call him back, and his training shows that he is ready to take up the challenge.
»
Ntamack, confidence renewed
He left the lawn on Saturday after less than an hour of play, for his first game since mid-September.
Back from injury, Romain Ntamack delivered against the Wallabies a game far from his international standards, while his competitor Matthieu Jalibert managed a bleeding entry, with in particular a well-inspired pass on Damian Penaud's winning try.
But not enough to place him among the holders of the Vélodrome.
“It was an option, slips Fabien Galthié.
He made a very good entry where he brought his punch and his maturity.
Romain delivered a solid game defensively and offensively in a difficult environment overall.
It was his cover.
He was better this week, he will be better on Saturday evening, like the team.
The doors are open, but the collective experience matters too.
»