The XV of France in turmoil, it utters a rant

Big favorite for the World Cup some time ago, the French XV has lost its splendor over the months and no longer seems unbeatable. The recent meeting against Uruguay only fueled this feeling, with a very disappointing performance from Fabien Galthié’s men.

We had to wait until the second group match to see the XV of France be the subject of criticism at this World Cup. Facing theUruguay (27-12), the Blues were almost obliged to win a bonus point which would have in some way already validated qualification for the quarter-finals. This was ultimately not the case and since then some have questioned the real chances of this France to seek the first world title in its history.

Victim of racism, a star of the French XV tells https://t.co/4ZfRPr7Ggl pic.twitter.com/WXtBUsnUyB

— le10sport (@le10sport) September 19, 2023

“It’s not because we had a crappy match that that calls into question the overall objective”

This is not the case of Pascal Papéwho refused to speak of a crisis by comparing this XV of France to the one who won the Grand Slam in 2022. “ I don’t find this French team any less strong than a year ago. It’s not because we had a crappy match (against Uruguay) that that calls into question the overall objective. Even if we are all frustrated, we must stop intellectualizing: it is not because you take a little more attempts that your serenity has changed » declared the former second row with 65 selections, in the columns of The team.

“This French team does not panic”

« I was in the stadium for France – New Zealand and even when we were crossed and the Blacks scored first, at no time did I say to myself that we were going to lose the match, at no time ” has followed Pascal Papé. « This French team is not panicking. For me, it’s a false debate to say that we are less good in defense and therefore that the France team is less strong. And you will see that the defensive system will be efficient when it needs to be. “. On the side of Fabien Galthié we seem to want to very quickly silence the critics, since in the face of Namibia (Thursday, 9 p.m.) the heavy artillery should be out.