Fabien Galthié during training for the XV of France, Wednesday, in Marcoussis. EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP
The coach has justified his choice of squad composition to face England on Saturday at Twickenham.
Why did you choose to establish Jonathan Danty in the center?
Fabien Galthié: I ran into him this morning. I told him : “I’m sure there will be a question about you. Do you have something to say?He gave me his answer: “I’m hot“. He said everything and we understood everything. “Jo” is pretty clear in his vision. When we went to Australia (summer tour 2021), I planned to put it back in the field for the third and final test. He had come to see us to tell us that he couldn’t, that he was in no condition to play. This is not the first time he has told us about his condition. He knows himself well and we follow him. There is a psychological dimension and, above all, the trust that exists between us. We move forward together. We form a single group… On Monday, I asked him how you are – he had a little sore throat – he replied: “I’m ready“. Tuesday, I asked him again, he answered me “I’m ready”. Wednesday morning, the same. And this morning he said to me: “Tell them I’m hot»…
Why did you start Dorian Aldegheri back in blue two years after his last selection, rather than Sipili Falatea, finisher appointed for several months, as the right pillar?
This is a question that has been asked a lot. Sipili gave us a lot of satisfaction for almost 70 minutes against Scotland in a scrum reduced to 7 after the expulsion of Momo Haouas… We always trusted him. Even when he played little in Clermont, we felt great potential. He is a young player learning a difficult position. He is great, he responds in the best way to the challenges that are proposed to him. Thomas Laclayat (Oyonnax, Pro D2) also does very good training with us. He too is in development. Dorian, he plays at Stade Toulousain where he is in the process of becoming number 1 in his position. His club level this season gives us guarantees. So we had three profiles available. We decided on the connection between the players. Establishing Dorian means associating him with Julien (Marchand) and Cyril (Yawns), children who grew up together at the Stade Toulousain. We therefore preferred to start with this first line, knowing that Sipili will bring all the energy necessary to finish the match.
“Grégory Alldritt will respond to your judgment. It will come, you will see. Wait a little…”
You deviate from your bench with 6 forwards and 2 three-quarters passing in 5-3. For what reasons ?
You have to be flexible and make the right decisions based on feelings. The 6-2 was rather successful for us, even if, sometimes, it was borrowed. There, it seems more coherent to us to make a bench at 5-3. If we start with “Jo”, we can imagine that Yoram (Moefana) will be used as a finisher. And Charles (Ollivo) can switch to second line if needed.
Grégory Alldritt seems less sovereign since the start of the Tournament…
In the course of a rugby player, we sometimes have the right to be a little less sovereign. Competitors understand it, accept it and respond to it. Against Scotland, he had begun to respond to it. But, because of Momo Haouas’ red card, we had to get him out quickly. We told him that we blame each other… Grégory is there. He will respond to your judgment. It will come, you will see. Wait a bit…
Even if England are currently going through a bad patch, is it still a special meeting to face them at Twickenham?
Of course… Anything is possible. No one knows what we’re going to experience at Twickenham. It’s a question mark. England is one of the giants of world rugby, including when it goes through a little more difficult times. They are also respected because the English are proud and arrogant.
“The hallmark of this French team for three years is that it is stubborn”
Do you really hope you can still win this Tournament?
In the standings, the Irish are ahead. But the particularity, the mark of this French team for three years, is that it is stubborn. She has the will not to let go of the trophy. For 33 matches, she has always fought with difficult scenarios, it took work. The players have done everything possible to leave as little room for uncertainty as possible, to meet this capital challenge. The competition is ongoing. It is not finished…
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Does the content of your team’s last matches worry you?
Despite the defeat, we found the content against Ireland fantastic. Ireland knew how to beat us. You have to accept it and learn the lessons. But from there to questioning everything we’ve been doing for three years and 33 matches… It’s a big test for our team who will learn a lot at Twickenham. Players will learn a lot from them. There will be a lot to take away from this match, whether its outcome is positive or negative. It will help us move forward and grow.
Statements taken at a press conference
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