Tense, with a black look, Fabien Galthié presented himself at a press conference half an hour after the draw conceded against Italy (13-13) this Sunday in Villeneuve-d’Ascq (North), on the occasion of the third day of the Six Nations Tournament. The Blues coach had difficulty explaining what constitutes a new failure after a defeat against Ireland on February 2 in Marseille (18-37) and despite the victory snatched in Scotland two weeks ago (16-20) , in the contestation of a last try refused to the XV du Chardon. He spoke of difficult times and resilience. Once again.
How do you analyze this draw?
FABIEN GALTHIÉ. I congratulate Italy for its performance, its courage. She came back to score in the second half. For us, it’s a difficult Tournament which we entered with a defeat against Ireland. In this match, we had to try to master a scenario. We were able to win this match but also to lose it.
Is the team in crisis?
The French team, when it doesn’t win, it’s not positive. Our mission is to win. So experiencing defeat is a crisis. It’s a difficult, painful time to live through. That was the feeling in the locker room after the match.
How do you explain the few points scored during the domination in the first half?
It is territorial domination with possession but a lack of realization. The scenario is difficult with this red card (from Jonathan Danty for a head-to-head tackle) before half-time and the penalty marked for this fault.
“Neither anger nor despondency”
Do you feel angry or dejected?
Neither anger nor despondency. When we enter the locker room, we find it difficult to experience these matches. We were very happy to win in Scotland. There, after this draw, which could be a defeat, we have the feeling of being in trouble. But the players were very generous in the first half, they committed enormously, they dominated, but they did not materialize, we agree. And things turn on details against us. On our only defensive situation at 45 m, we take a red card and 3 points.
Then at 14, we have chances. But the Italian team is dynamic, it sees the spaces, well done to the Italians. We have a feeling of responsibility, we are aware of being in a painful period. We have a very firm desire to play this last block of the Tournament, in Cardiff (March 10) then against England (March 16 in Lyon).
You yourself say that you have been going through a painful month since the start of the Tournament, what is this due to?
When we work and prepare for matches, we clearly see the points of improvement that we can make. It is an experience to be lived fully, with responsibility towards ourselves first, but also towards our supporters, our educators, our loved ones. Our educators taught us that we need to be resilient in difficult times, this is one. Between the past and today, it seems enormous but in fact there is not much. You have to be resilient.
“We are all responsible for these red cards”
Should we change the system or the people?
On men, things still move. There were rotations linked to circumstances. The team composition since the quarter-final has changed quite a bit. Vision and consistency remain very important. We are going to take stock, analyze it, and make decisions, we have always operated like this, we will continue. Today, the outcome is painful, difficult, it does not satisfy us. But it doesn’t take much for it to change to a more joyful, pleasant, harmonious result. This is the nature of the competition and the requirement of this level.
You received two red cards (Willemse, Danty) in three matches, and a yellow which could have been red in Scotland (Atonio), how can you avoid it?
It’s true that this doesn’t help us. These are moments that upset our balance. The faults are high contacts. We are working a lot on this. Sometimes it doesn’t matter much. And, for the moment, this does not suit us. We are not going to burden a player who has left us. We are all responsible for these red cards which put us in difficulty.