According to the Welsh press, more than 10,000 tickets remained for sale this Thursday for the duel between Wales and France.
The high price of places is coughing in the principality.
In the city around the majestic Millennium Stadium, there was not much to suggest that we were on the eve of a match between the leaders of the Six Nations Tournament.
From our special correspondent in Cardiff
In a lyrical flight of which he sometimes has the secret, Fabien Galthié declared his love at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wednesday at a press conference.
“We are in the marvelous of rugby”, launched the coach of the XV of France, who praised “the stadium but also the 80,000 spectators, the Welsh choirs who accompany you from the bus to the locker rooms.
"It takes you and gives you goosebumps," vibrated the Lotois.
This Friday evening, when the Blues will come for a fourth success in four games of the 6 Nations Tournament, it could be more modestly chicken flesh.
Because, something unimaginable for a long time, the Principality (its ugly name since a sponsorship by a bank in 2016) should not be full (74,000 places, to be more fair).
Far from the same, since Wales On Line, the reference media on rugby in the Principality, was counting on Thursday afternoon an influx of just over 60,000 people.
Unheard of in the history of a Wales-France since the construction of the enclosure in the city center, on the ruins of the legendary Arms Park, in 1999. “Frankly, I have doubts about this information, we confided a local photojournalist crossed during the training of the captain of the Blues, this Thursday.
Since I have lived here, I have always seen the stadium full for a VI Nations match.
Even for receptions in Italy?
“Ah, maybe not,” he replied with a smile.
Even if in this case, the places are cheaper.
»
A rate and a date that do not pass
Let's talk about the price precisely: number of places still on sale cheerfully exceed 100 pounds (about 120 euros) and this is causing a scandal on social networks or in the comments of information sites.
Anger accentuated by the organization of this match on Friday evening and not a weekend afternoon, which deprives the Welsh "provincials", stuck at work during the day, of a nice extended trip to the capital, to unless you add a hotel night to an already expensive total.
And indeed, this Thursday, we did not really feel the fever foreshadowing major events rising in the pubs of Saint Mary Street, a mecca for parties more than good taste on Tournament evenings.
Between the non-Welsh living in Cardiff, the Welsh who are not interested in rugby and the one who is interested but who refuses to talk about it (!), we had a lot of trouble talking about this Friday's match.
And then Alan, 59, appeared to us through the gray local sky, as he took a break from his job a stone's throw from the Millennium.
“I think people will buy their place at the last moment, launched this employee in a transport company.
The 100 pounds, they pay them for a concert.
For a proud Welshman, the cost doesn't matter.
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Title holders in the hard
The results a little more on the other hand.
Winner of two of the last three Tournaments (2019 with the Grand Slam and 2021), the Dragons are not really spitting fire this year, with two defeats in three games.
Major players are injured (Alun-Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, George North…) but Alan also points to “a lack of confidence” and even the Covid-19, which “caused changes in mentality”…
A little further, Luke, 27, wonders if the heroes “have not rested on their laurels”.
Behind the barrels of beer in the pub where he works and which despite everything should be emptied well on Friday evening, the young man hopes that an assessment will be made at the end of the Tournament, “to draw out the good and the bad”.
"But we are outsiders, and we will be better next year", he judges, in the same optimistic tone as his eldest Alan, who still expects "a victory for France by 10 points this time.
"But it will always be easier to accept than our defeat in England [23-19]", he slices.
Fewer French people, to the joy of Pivac
But if the Welsh are fewer, will the French be heard more, as at Murrayfield two weeks ago?
It's not won, that either.
This Thursday, Basque berets and scattered blue-white-red scarves certainly defied Cardiff's changeable weather.
From there to speak of tidal waves…
Still according to Wales On Line, the tricolor attendance should also be down from the big years, below 10,000 fans.
“If, in this period of Covid, some French supporters do not come, that will not worry us too much, dropped the New Zealand coach of the Leek XV Wayne Pivac, in a nice understatement.
But there are still empty seats.
It would be nice if they were busy.
By Welshmen, if we have followed his reasoning correctly.
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