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France issue 'surprised' Atonio warning six weeks before World Cup
Host nation France have warned that their pre-Rugby World Cup preparation is transformed compared to four years ago when their frustrating tournament in Japan was ended at the quarter-final stage by Wales in Oita.
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That exit marked the final match of the Jacques Brunel era in charge and since Fabien Galthie has taken up the baton, all roads have been leading to the 2023 tournament that they are hosting.
France were crowned Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam champions in 2022, their first win in 12 years, and having since finished second this year to Ireland, their priority now is peaking for their September 8 World Cup opener versus the All Blacks in Paris.
That is a blockbuster fixture to kick off the action in a pool that also features Italy, Uruguay and Namibia and the reports coming out of France six weeks before they take on New Zealand are that everything is on track following the completion of their first preparation block.
Ahead of their schedule of warm-up matches which commence with the August 5 trip to Edinburgh to take on Scotland, performance director Thibault Giroud has given his verdict on the progress so far of Galthie’s squad and what he had to say should put the world on warning that France are very much title contenders.
“This week we reach the end of the first block and the guys really play the game,” he told French media on Thursday. “We could have had a few guys parked today, nobody did. They stripped themselves. It’s great. The players hate me even more, but they do the job. These are special moments to live in a preparation. For some players, I didn’t expect this level of involvement.
“Uini Atonio, for example, we always asked ourselves the question of how we were going to be able to adapt it to be able to bring it to the end. And he didn’t miss a single session, he gave everything he could give.
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“There wasn’t a single time we thought we were going to adapt because he couldn’t do it. I am pleasantly surprised at what it produces.
“We ask a lot of them, we flirt with their limits to develop qualities in a fairly short time, but the guys respond and give their all every day.
“We knew we would have fewer injuries than four years ago because we have brought the players for four and a half years to what we wanted to be at the top of this World Cup preparation. We are reaping the fruits of work that has been carried out over the past four years.
“What is important for us is to see that we started at 42, today we have 41 players working, only one is ‘out’ [Francois Cros]. Four years ago, it was not the same story. We always had between 10 and 15 guys outside.
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“Everyone works as well as possible while adapting the sessions as well as possible for the players who need them. After a month of very intense work, it’s great.
“This morning [Thursday], we had a lot of guys in the red, we brought them gradually on this day, we did not want to overdo the afternoon session at all and everyone was there, no one hid.
“We are not going to lie, this preparation is made so that we can touch an important peak for the opening match against New Zealand. We have to be at our best for this match.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Crusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
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