The director of performance of the Blues returns to the epic clash against the Boks, the upcoming match against the Japanese and evokes the case of several players, including the tricolor opener.
The state of the troops after the Springboks
“It was very physical. Nevertheless, it was the game with the shortest effective playing time since the 2019 World Cup quarter-final against Wales. We had 27 minutes of effective playing time. On average, it’s around 37-38 minutes internationally. We are way below. Afterwards, it hit hard, it was a lot of combat… The combat data was multiplied by two or three, that’s for sure. The players were given two days off. Surprisingly, we got some pretty fresh players. The players were well in training today (Wednesday). It was complicated 24-48 hours post-match. But we try to get the players used to it during our training sessions.
A week without Antoine Dupont
“The collective is preponderant in relation to an individuality. We know that he is a major player for the XV of France. But Antoine went out for a card, but he could be injured at any time and we have to do without him. Other players can replace him. We are preparing for that. We have high-level players who can help us make up for this kind of absence. (…) It’s never good not to have it, but it’s valid for any player. It is not Antoine Dupont who makes the France collective. It’s better that it happens now than during the World Cup. It’s good to be able to adapt without our first choice in the scrimmage.
Read alsoXV of France: in the absence of Dupont, Ollivon will be the captain of the Blues against Japan
Incumbents should chain
“If you take the November tour, it’s the only time you can string together three very high-level matches without a week off. What we don’t have during the Tournament or the summer tours. This is close to a final phase of the World Cup: a quarter, a half, a final. It is important for us to see how we can adapt to this programming. And how players can adapt with three high-level matches without having any rest. Even if we can believe that Japan is not on paper a major nation, we saw this summer that they will bring us combat, speed.«»
A change in preparation?
“Rugby remains an alliance between the fight and the distance run, we have to be ready in both areas. The Australians offered us travel, the South Africans the fight, I think the Japanese, it will be a mix of the two. Like a painter, we have thirty colors available, we can’t just use twenty colors and leave the others aside. We have to be ready for whatever the scenarios.”
No contact for Danty in training
“Jonathan was preserved on fight intensity on Wednesday. It will also be on Thursday but it will be OK for this weekend. It hit hard on the face. After examinations, there was no suspicion of orbital floor fracture. We put it back in the “game”. We tried to adapt, he didn’t race on Monday, there was no contact. We will see his progress. But we will try to integrate the contact as late as possible.
Read alsoXV of France: no fracture for Danty, selected to face Japan on Sunday
Ntamack less decisive
“It’s hard to say. When preparing, it ticked all the boxes. We have no problem in the athletic field concerning him. Afterwards, the matches are harder and harder. Players are tracked, especially our hinge. We can’t always be on top of every game, all year round, every day. I don’t worry about Romain. It will be fine. We, in the field of performance, if we had the slightest doubt about his athletic abilities when he returned, we would have done otherwise. But he ticked all the boxes.
Read alsoXV of France: these Blues still have progress to make
Macalou’s big performance
“Sekou, we know the qualities he has. He’s a guy who does 115 bars, who runs at 36 or 37 an hour! There aren’t many on the rugby planet who can play multiple positions. We had been expecting a big performance from him for a while, it was the case against the Springboks. It’s great for the team, it’s great for him!
Interviewed in Marcoussis