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Comment le XV de France va jongler avec ses joueurs pour les six prochains mois
Attention, prise de tête en vue pour celui qui devra gérer les groupes de préparation de l’équipe de France en vue du Tournoi des Six Nations 2024 et de la tournée d’été en Amérique du Sud.
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La Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) et la Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) sont parvenues à un accord après de nombreuses réunions quant à la mise à disposition des internationaux pour le groupe France.
Si au cours des quatre premières années de leur mandat Fabien Galthié et son staff pouvaient compter sur un effectif de 42 joueurs selon des règles bien établies, le nouveau cycle de quatre ans menant à la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2027 en Australie s’ouvre sur un nouvel avenant.
L’avenant (n°2) à la convention porte sur le Tournoi des Six Nations 2024 et la Tournée d’été 2024 et porte non plus sur 42, mais sur 34 joueurs dans un premier temps.
Un Tournoi des Six Nations avec 34 joueurs
En bref, l’équipe de France disputera cinq matchs lors du Tournoi 2024. Le premier aura lieu un vendredi soir (contre l’Irlande le 2 février), deux autres auront lieu un dimanche (contre l’Italie le 25 février et le 10 mars contre le Pays de Galles), et deux autres auront lieu un samedi (le 10 février contre l’Ecosse et le 16 mars contre l’Angleterre).
Pour s’adapter à ce programme et pour satisfaire les besoins de l’équipe de France, plusieurs changements ont été opérés. Ainsi, les entraînements à haute intensité à 34 joueurs – et non plus à 42 – auront lieu trois jeudis au cours des huit semaines du Tournoi, au lieu des mercredis comme d’habitude.
La FFR choisira 34 joueurs en début de semaine et le mercredi soir, le sélectionneur n’en gardera que 28. Les six autres pourront donc retourner dans leur club pour préparer les rencontres du Top 14 du week-end suivant.
Pendant trois semaines spécifiques – la première du 22 janvier, et celles du 19 février et du 4 mars amenant aux matchs du dimanche – six nouveaux joueurs rejoindront l’équipe pour s’entraîner le jeudi. Ces joueurs seront issus de clubs différents du Top 14 – autres que ceux qui sont le plus sollicités – à raison d’un joueur maximum par club. La FFR essayera de faire tourner les joueurs autant que possible lors de ces entraînements.
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Pendant les deux weekends sans match du Tournoi des Six Nations, le sélectionneur laissera reposer 19 joueurs.
De la fraîcheur parmi 42 joueurs pour la tournée d’été
En ce qui concerne la tournée d’été en Amérique du Sud, l’organisation sera encore différente avec un retour à 42 joueurs.
Le XV de France jouera deux tests-matchs contre l’Argentine les 6 et 13 juillet 2024. Pour cela, 42 joueurs formeront un groupe pour cette tournée avec deux règles impératives : donner du repos aux joueurs très sollicités et commencer à former l’équipe de France dans le cadre du nouveau projet sur quatre ans.
Par conséquent, cette tournée sera réservée aux joueurs qui n’ont pas beaucoup joué pendant le Tournoi des Six Nations 2024 et/ou qui ne seront pas dans les équipes finalistes du Top 14.
À partir du 17 juin, une première sélection de 28 joueurs sera annoncée et le 24 juin, d’autres joueurs des équipes ayant perdu en demi-finale du Top 14 rejoindront le groupe pour arriver à 42 joueurs.
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En plus des deux tests du XV de France contre l’Argentine, deux autres rencontres seront organisées avec une équipe de « France Développement » (qui n’est pas une équipe nationale officielle) : le 22 juin contre les Barbarians Britanniques, ainsi qu’un autre match en semaine lors de la Tournée en Argentine contre une équipe encore à définir (Chili ou Uruguay).
Nouvelles discussions en cours d’année
Si cet accord pour 2023/2024 couvre les rendez-vous sportifs à court terme de la saison, la FFR et la LNR continueront de discuter au cours du premier semestre 2024 pour s’entendre sur les ajustements de la convention pour les trois prochaines saisons.
L’objectif reste la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2027 qui mobilisera une fois de plus tous les aspects du rugby français, avec l’idée de rester unis et collaboratifs entre tous ceux impliqués dans le rugby en France.
Comments on RugbyPass
Hi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
83 Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
1 Go to commentsI’d be fascinated to see what other candidates you all might have for the Lions captaincy role. Let me know, below 👍
1 Go to comments“ planning for the next cycle….” Sigh ill-advised language Elton old juice bean. Ppersonally glad you self-eliminated yourself, there were better players in the position around you.
3 Go to commentsRegardless of best in world etc. Lawes was outstanding against Leinster and has been all season. Looked like three try saving turnovers. His turnovers also contributed to NH scores. Immense performance.
2 Go to commentsDickson now considered the top ref in England it appears. Good that these series are getting one NH and one SH ref.
2 Go to commentsI don’t think any coach or selector would ever rely on Blackadder being available for selection. I didn’t think it would be possible but he has easily eclipsed Ennor as they most injured player of all time. IMO a symptom of today’s game where players are required to carry at least 10kg of extra mass from when they first hit the scene in their early 20s. Some players respond well to this, maybe due to genetics allowing them to recover faster, or not having reached their peak natural weight yet, but for others the constant training to maintain their weight eats away at recovery time and they spend most of their careers injured.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the lesson Nick! I presume that targeting gaps is situational because if a ball carrier straightens the line they can't be allowed a gap to run into? It feels like you need depth if you're going to pass it wide and plenty of variety - straight running, kicks just in behind, cross kicks etc. BTW what an incredible bench Toulouse had this week. People complain about Leinster being stacked but they need to be at the very highest level.
20 Go to comments2015 was by far the best team. They have had many good backlines over the years but the 2015 team was one of the few to have an absolute world class forward pack - all of them international quality. 6 ABs, 1 future English player, and one that would have gone on to ABs had he not been forced to retire due to concussion. This current team doesn’t have the same size and experience at lock, but providing they can keep this many talented young players (who have all significantly increased their profile this year) together for another 2 years they could eclipse the 2015 team.
2 Go to commentsAnd I’ve just seen RA has topped up the offer to Paisami and extended it beyond 3 years and he’s signed. Great news
83 Go to commentsInteresting watching Amaua starting to fire. No idea why he was pulled so early against the Reds.
4 Go to commentsNice to read something positive about Vunivalu; it doesn’t happen often. I despair for rugby in Oz. Unless some form of compensation for the teams producing players is devised, there is no obvious way for us to combat poachers coming to grab players in their prime with bigger pay cheques. A return to the SR crowds we were getting in 2010-2014 and a quadrupling of the TV deal would be a start but I don’t see how those things happen. Perhaps the government could be encouraged to deliver tax breaks like in Ireland?
83 Go to commentsI wasn’t aware that the blitz targeted space so, as usual, something learned from reading one of your articles, Nick. Watching the game live I attributed the Saints’ inaccuracy to their own mistakes and nerves. Perhaps some credit to the Leinster D.
20 Go to commentsGotta give it to you Graham, you support your players and team to the hilt. There may be strains of exaggeration laced throughout but gotta love the passionate parochialism.
2 Go to commentsNice one Nick. No doubt Vunivalu’s involvements and work rate are improving this year in attack, but I still think he is too raw on the defensive and backfield part of his game to be considered as a starter. Wales would just kick and run it to his side all night as the brumbies have done to good effect in the past. But, his size/power will keep him in the convo with Mark N leaving and Petaia’s injury record. Hunter definitely enjoying an injury-free run this season and being given the keys by Kiss - I have always been a fan of his. All I’d say is that his triple threat has been evident since 2020/21. I remember him making a grubber for a petaia try after the siren to beat the Brumbies in Canberra after the 80th minute in 2021. Lastly, Jock Campbell, who I know isn’t at the top of your list, I thought had alot of positive involvements in the saders game including both of Tim ryan’s tries and Mcreights
83 Go to commentsAg please, Pieter Stef Du Toit has played circles around this clown.
2 Go to commentsJust celebrating the Bok’s 1648th consecutive day as RWC champions. They are also the Qatar Airways Cup winners, which I know BennieBoy cares about a lot.
2 Go to commentsGood to here positive stories towards Aus Rugby. Although that might be the case, and highers up are right about Jordie, I wouldn’t stress trying to retain him. What I have seen of him in recent times is that he’s not using that something special. I feel there a better ‘something special’ options coming through that they won’t have to compete with league for, hell even in Kerevi and Paisami (isn’t it great to finally see his ability getting recognized, probably taking this article in isolation too much here).
83 Go to commentsgreat article! I wonder whether we will we see Ireland adopt the Nienaber blitz? All the teams who have tried it so far (SA included) have gone through significant teething problems in the first season; Ireland could possibly be in the unique position of being able to switch to a hard blitz in season 2 of a world cup cycle and already have so many players used to the system that it can be implemented seamlessly.
20 Go to commentsThey probably left another 20 on the field to be fair. Also - the officiating was… ordinary.
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