Monaco (AFP)

The XV of France raking the lawn of the stadium Louis II of Monaco in search of an alliance: fun, the scene concluded an exhausting training on Monday, in full preparation of the Blues for the World Cup (September 20- November 2).

Cyril Baille threw in the towel halfway through. In his defense, the left pillar reserve, called Saturday to replace Etienne Falgoux, package, joined the group, in full and thoroughly for two weeks, that Sunday night while he thought to end his holidays and resume quietly with Toulouse.

No wonder he was able to follow through the hellish pace imposed by Fabien Galthié and Thibault Giroud, the new staff: 6 sessions of play of 7 minutes each, without any respite, at noon in full sun, interspersed breaks of 2 minutes.

Wounded or spoiled, Demba Bamba, Arthur Iturria, Yoann Huget, Yacouba Camara, Felix Lambey, Rabah Slimani and Geoffrey Doumayrou escaped this ordeal, which was not intended to please the few hundred spectators who came to watch the training public.

The goal sought by the coaching coach Jacques Brunel, reinforced by the arrivals of Galthié (collective animation), Giroud (physical trainer) and Laurent Labit (individual technique), is to catch up with the physical backlog accumulated by the Blues last years vis-à-vis the best nations.

- Giroud gives voice -

Focused on the speed of movement and minimal recovery, Giroud gives the voice to run the Blues relentlessly, GPS on the chest and ball in hand, as at the beginning of the session where they chained combinations on small ground.

When it comes time to take the whole width of the lawn, the players do not cheat: it screams, it slams, the tackles are not retained, the kicks in the corner of the three quarters are not even enough to blow. Guilhem Guirado wins against Paul Gabrillagues, Maxime Machenaud tears off the GPS of Louis Picamoles and Romain Taofifenua ends up losing his alliance despite the bandage that held it.

While the players finish with quick workshops to bring down the temperature, the staff is active to find the jewel, in vain. Like hunters during a fight, the Blues return then on the lawn to rake methodically, until Bernard Le Roux finally unearths the ring.

After an autograph session on the forecourt of the stadium, with a family audience, the Blues will continue this day of preparation like the others.

They leave Friday their hotel Cap d'Ail, just in front of the stadium, for 5 days of rest before ending up near Valencia, Spain, during a new course. The first warm-up match against Scotland, August 17 in Nice, is still far away. The departure for Japan on September 7th, even more.

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