Fabien Galthié reflects on a significant victory that marked the beginning of the new season, emphasizing the challenges posed by Japan’s fast-paced play. He acknowledges areas for improvement in their offensive performance while preparing for an upcoming match against the All Blacks, who are in top form. Galthié praises Peato Mauvaka’s exceptional performance and Emmanuel Meafou’s unique skills, highlighting the importance of evaluating player strengths through recent coaching changes. Statements were made during a press conference.
Valuable Insights from a Resounding Victory
Fabien Galthié: After an intensive two-week preparation period, featuring players we hadn’t seen in over a year, this match served as a significant test and marked the official start of our new season. What did we learn? Primarily, we secured a victory. It’s crucial to maintain a high performance level against teams like Japan, who challenged us with their quick pace and emphasis on keeping the ball in play. Thus, we achieved a successful test, and this match wraps up a rigorous and demanding preparation phase. The Japanese team truly pushed us to our physical limits.
Assessing Offensive Performance
While I’m not convinced we’ll replicate scoring eight tries in our future matches, this performance does align with our strategic objectives and showcases the variety we aim for in our play. However, there were moments of inefficiency, and I can’t say I’m entirely satisfied with every aspect.
Looking Ahead to the All Blacks Match
Next Saturday, we’ll need to elevate our game significantly. The All Blacks are currently in their sixth month of competition and are set to play their 14th match of the season. They appear to be in excellent form, consistently achieving victories even on the road. We’re witnessing the All Blacks at the peak of their game, finishing their international season with tremendous momentum. They are a cohesive and well-rounded team, and it’s evident they are riding a strong wave. As they return to Paris, where they competed in last year’s World Cup final, they come with a clear vision.
Is This Meeting a Turning Point for Your Team?
The All Blacks come to us following victories over Japan, England, and Ireland. Their level of play speaks volumes, and while I wouldn’t label this as a turning point, it certainly represents a major encounter that we’re all eagerly anticipating with great enthusiasm.
Highlighting Peato Mauvaka’s Impressive Performance
Peato is in outstanding shape! His fitness level is evident in training sessions. He demonstrates exceptional leadership in performance, and I wish for his teammates to draw inspiration from him. He delivered a well-rounded match, playing as a hooker, then flanker, and nearly scoring as a winger.
Emmanuel Meafou’s Unique Contribution
First and foremost, Emmanuel is an exceptional rugby player with impressive ball-handling skills and a strong defensive presence. Additionally, he possesses a unique level of power, making him a remarkable number 5. We were fortunate to have him in our lineup during the last two matches of the Six Nations Tournament, and we’re very pleased with his contributions. Being a young international player, he is still evolving, and we aim to maximize his potential.
Why the Significant Coaching Changes Early On?
We wanted to evaluate players like Guillard and Boudehent. Mixing up the profiles allowed us to explore their complementary strengths and capabilities.
Statements gathered during a press conference