Montgesty (France) (AFP)
The new France coach Fabien Galthié has introduced his staff, consisting of 8 men including English defense specialist Shaun Edwards, Wednesday in his home village of Montgesty, in the Lot after a seminar on the mandate that lead them to the 2023 World Cup.
Not surprisingly, Galthié and Raphaël Ibanez, appointed general manager, presented to the press Laurent Labit (attack), Edwards (defense), William Servat and Karim Ghezal (co-coaches of the conquest and specific tasks), as well as Thibault Giroud (director of athletic performance) and Nicolas Buffa (director of the cell analysis), all gathered since Sunday on the family farm to lay the framework for the next four years.
The coaching, part of which (Galthié, Labit and Giroud) had integrated at the beginning of the summer the previous staff of Jacques Brunel for the preparation for the World Cup, resulting in a elimination in the quarterfinals against Wales (20-19), will meet again in the Landes, on the lands of Ibanez, before gathering players on January 19 for the Six Nations Tournament.
The president of the French Federation (FFR) Bernard Laporte "has asked us to take the destiny of the French team in hand.It is an immense challenge, we will raise it with all our strengths," said Galthie.
The goal is to become a major nation of rugby world, to quickly win matches and quickly regain titles to return to the top 3 in the world, "said Galthie without mentioning the deadline of the World-2023 , organized in France.
Galthie and Ibanez, both ex-captains of the Blues, said they have not yet decided on the identity of the future captain. It will be "someone who gathers but also knows how to listen," said Ibanez, highlighting the "very different profiles" chosen in the past.
Edwards, the father of the 'rush defense' which allowed the Wasps and the Welsh to win many titles, was eager to speak in a French still stammering but promising. France has made "great progress" at the World Cup thanks to the work of Galthie and the preparator Thibault Giroud, he said.
The Blues will start Galthie era on Sunday, February 2, with the reception of England, vice-champion of the world.
© 2019 AFP