A few days before challenging England in Twickenham, Fabien Galkié notably mentioned the stake of this first meeting against the press and then the tour in New Zealand.
Before flying to New Zealand for a summer tour which promises to be interesting to follow, the XV of France will play a first match this Saturday against England A (who will be deprived of fifteen players selected by the British and Irish lions), in Twickenham (at 4:15 p.m.). Present at a press conference this Tuesday, Fabien Galkié spoke about this meeting which will not count as an official selection but which will still be important before challenging the All Blacks three times.
“It will allow us to start launching our tour and give players an opportunity already eliminated from the Top 14. We have no choice but to take players who have finished their season, with the eliminated from the first phase and those of the dams. This is an opportunity to work with the best available players, ”said the Blues coach.
Galkié: “You just have to try to be educational”
“We know that today we cannot afford to overload the seasons of players. (…) Critics from New Zealand on our reworked team? I know their calendar. They started their national season in February and finish it now. With an average of eight match sheets. And they enter a period which is only dedicated to the national team. You just have to try to be educational and try to explain the constraints that are linked to our calendar. There is no other solution. I think it is quite clear, later declared Garthié, in remarks made by the team. Or the New Zealanders must help us reinvent a national calendar. It is one of the specificities of each country. As a reminder, the XV of France will fly soon after for New Zealand with a group of 42 players, or a little less because five finalist players of the Top 14 could then join the Blues.
