Oliva (Spain) (AFP)

It's getting closer: on stage in Oliva, Spain, the XV of France entered Friday in a new phase of its preparation for the World Cup (September 20 - November 2), with tackles, for the test on August 17 face in Scotland.

Winger Yoann Huget (Achilles' heel) and third line Arthur Iturria (thigh) recovered from their physical problems, only Demba Bamba, victim of a cervical hernia at the end of the season, "must pay attention to contacts", said coach Brunel.

Except for the pillar, the festivities have finally started for the Blues, arrived Thursday and deprived of tackles during the first part of the preparation, focused on physical intensity. "Today", the first day of training, "we started to enter into a phase of contacts in order to prepare the organizations for what will happen in a very short time", summarized Brunel, rather satisfied with the first exchanges of friendliness.

"Their entry into contact with determination, without seeking to protect themselves, without complaining, convinces me that they want to move forward," said the Gersois, "reassured".

- Last week without match -

The Blues have more than this full week at the edge of the Mediterranean before attacking their three preparation matches against Scotland (August 17 and 24) and Italy (August 30). And, to believe the Gers, they still work, especially on the game launches they have "not seen at all" or "changes of pace that make the difference" against " well organized defenses ".

For that, the staff, reinforced by the assistants Fabien Galthié (collective animation), Laurent Labit (individual technique) and the physical trainer Thibault Giroud, opted for this tourist complex of Oliva Nova, south of Valence, appreciated by the professional teams football and rugby for its infrastructure, to be in the same heat conditions as in Monaco, place of the previous stage end of July. Objective: to work in the same moisture as expected in Japan in the fall. "It takes every training, we advance," claims Brunel.

The 37 Blues - 31 holders and 6 reservists housed in the same name - will have five big days of work (Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday) interspersed with two lighter (Sunday and Wednesday) before separating Friday, and meet August 14 in Nice to receive Scotland.

© 2019 AFP