Martin Lange, edited by Gauthier Delomez / Photo credits: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP
Three days after their inaugural victory against the All Blacks (27-13), the Blues will return to training this Monday, with a session open to the public. The opportunity to see the popular enthusiasm around the Rugby World Cup and to continue working in peace.
The adventure has only just begun for the rugby Blues in this home World Cup. After a weekend of recovery, the French return to training this afternoon with a session open to the public. The opportunity to see the popular enthusiasm, three days after the inaugural victory against the All Blacks which still left its mark… It was enough to look at the state of Fabien Galthié’s players, shortly after this match. opening, some even being unable to answer journalists’ questions, forced to sit down.
It hit hard during this meeting, and the first victim is named Julien Marchand. Exited in the 12th minute, the hooker was hit in the thigh. He will be absent for a month and is expected to miss all group matches. A real blow for the Blues.
A little respite before the next matches
Nevertheless, the victory against New Zealand, this Friday September 8, gives confidence to the XV of France. Above all, it offers a little respite before the next deadlines, as Laurent Labit, the attack coach, points out. “It will allow us to go towards the Italy match (the last match of group A, editor’s note) and the quarter-final behind with a little more serenity, to continue working, to improve” , he explains at the microphone of Europe 1, adding that “they will be completely different oppositions”.
The first of them arrives this Thursday with Uruguay, an opponent that the Blues have never faced. On the good news side, Jonathan Danty and Anthony Jelonch are back and could face the Uruguayans. A small miracle for Jelonch, victim of a cruciate ligament rupture barely six months ago.