World Cup 2023. Fabien Galthier: “Five days off” and “Transportation to another world”

In his last World Cup preparation match France’s fifteenth widely imposed 41 to 17 OppositeAustralia in Stade de France. After a controlled first period without more, the Blues dominated the second half. Sharper and more rhythmic, their attacks made it possible to score Three attempts In the second half including a brace by Damien Benaud against the physically loaned Australians.

during the press conference, Fabian Galthi She expected herself to continue with the World Cup. A competition that will not have anything to do with the preparatory matches, according to the words of the coach of the French national team. the September 8th with the all blacksHe knows he will have it “the best team in the world” in front of him.

News: Where is the France national team and what is left to improve on the eve of the World Cup?

Fabian Galthier: There we finish the preparation period in July without matches, August with matches and continue to prepare, with a lifestyle adapted to preparation. Now the players will leave, exchange for five days and see you on Saturday. And here we come into competition. This is a new and final step, and it is the one that interests us.

What is the difference between friendly matches and the World Cup?

FG: The preparatory match represents work and analysis. The goal is to prepare. We can’t compare and get an idea of ​​what we just faced against Australia and what we’re going to do or what we aspire to do from the game against the All Blacks. It’s another world, another psychological commitment, another physical commitment. We move to another dimension whose aim is to be as intense as possible in all aspects of rugby.

With 12 days to go until the start of the World Cup, are you at the level you thought you would be four years ago?

FG: We’ve known for three years that the World Cup will start for us on September 8 against the All Blacks. On Saturday, when we meet around 12 noon, it wouldn’t be surprising. Where we will be, will be the assessment of the past four years. We can do it. In common living and collective experience, we have played 39 matches together. We’ve come close to what we wanted to do in the beginning, which is to get as many players as possible, and give them as much of a collective experience as possible. The idea was to work at the 42-year-old in such a way that it allowed for the development of about three players in the same position. There may be injuries. The slogan was anywhere, anyone, anytime. We have always prepared this vision in mind. And of course, we want to come into this competition with a lot of ambition.

We are fortunate to play in France and have been able to share time and rejuvenate through spaces that allow players to return home and spend three weeks with their families at their place of work. There they come home again. The content is perfect. As teams shuttle between airports, change hotels, are away from their families, suffer from jet lag…that’s not our case.

What is your assessment of the preparations for the World Cup next August?

FG: You know what to prepare. There is no satisfied or not. In any case, we, the coaching staff and the players, did the best possible preparation during these two months. With the choice of venues, rhythm, preparatory matches and hotels we tried to anticipate everything we could expect. Nothing should be left to chance, because victory is often hidden in the details. EVERYTHING WE CAN MASTER We tried to master and worked hard for three years to build this setup which went by so quickly, and now we find ourselves in the final week of preparation.

What’s planned this week before the World Cup kicks off on Friday 8 September?

FG: During this five-day break from Monday to Saturday, players will go home to prepare as well. It is renewal. They also have a performance program that will be held individually. With regard to independence, they must manage themselves either in small groups or individually to meet on the Sabbath. We are still preparing. We are lucky to play in France. We were really able to share time and rejuvenate with spaces that allowed players to go home and raise their families for three weeks at their workplace. There they come home again. The content is perfect. As teams shuttle between airports, change hotels, stay away from their families, suffer from jet lag…that’s just not the case for us.

Whatever the times or eras for us, the New Zealanders are the All Blacks, three-time World Cup winners, recently winners of the Rugby Championship. Over time, since the advent of rugby, it has become the best team in the world. So, on September 8, we will have the best team in the world, without a doubt.

In preparation matches, I conceded an average of three tries per match. Is this the negative point of this August?

FG: This is a big point for improvement. To make attempts, you have to give solutions or options to the opponent. We can see that we got into trouble in the matches. Sometimes the players can be too strong for us, so in this case we admit that we can’t do better, or we can analyze that we are also the ones helping them to score points. But it also works in the opposite direction. Competitors also give us options and we are realistic. Our vision is to play at our level and be in a position to take advantage of the solutions the opponent will offer us. He works both ways and in attack too, not just in defence.

What did you think of the meeting between the All Blacks and the Springboks last Friday at Twickenham?

FG: It’s hard to judge a friendly match even if it’s impressive, and we agree with what happened on Friday. It is difficult to judge the extent of preparation and psychological preparation reached by the two teams. So it is difficult to draw lessons. The only thing I know for sure is that the New Zealanders have just won the Rugby Championship. They have 11 straight wins in official matches rather than in preparation. Whatever the time or era, the New Zealanders are our All Blacks, three-time World Cup winners and recent winners of the Rugby Championship. Over time, since the advent of rugby, it has become the best team in the world. So, on September 8, we will have the best team in the world, without a doubt.

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