Since his return as a starter against the All Blacks and his XXL performance, the French number 8 has become the symbol of these relentless forwards who allow the Blues to shine and calmly send the ball to the wing where life is good (ask therefore to Gabin Villière and Damian Penaud). Facing Scotland, Saturday February 26, Grégory Alldritt will once again be a key element of the group concocted by Fabien Galthié to seek a third consecutive victory in the Six Nations Tournament, after the successes against Italy and Ireland. .
His performance is not the one that marks the retina the most, but it proves to be just as precious as the sensational races of a Gabin Villière, an Antoine Dupont or the precision at the foot of Melvyn Jaminet. However, the matches are played well and also and especially in front. It is in the shadows of rucks or scrums, where even the cameras fail to capture the harshness of the fights, where the slightest second gained, where the slightest centimeter scraped are precious, that Grégory Alldritt (24 years, 1m91, 114 kg) shines.
The native of Gers, trained in the essential nursery of FC Auch (like Antoine Dupont and Anthony Jelonch) is one of the most prominent players at the start of the tournament. Always available, Grégory Alldritt impresses with his ability to get up quickly to chain races. He is the player who has so far carried the most balls during the competition (30) and the forward who advances the most after breaking a tackle (83 meters in total). On this last point, only wingers like the Irish nugget Mack Hansen (107), the Scottish Darcy Graham (86) and the Frenchman Damian Penaud (84) do better.
Like his decisive pass where he lifts the ball while falling to allow Gabin Villière to try out against Italy, the player from La Rochelle “is a real number 8, very comfortable technically” explains Dimitri Yachvili, consultant France televisions and former scrum half of the XV of France. His ability to bring the ball to life after a tackle or to offer himself as a jumper in touch expands a very wide range. A multitasking profile to which the staff of the Blues, adept at experimentation (Woki in the second line, Ntamack in the center …) to be able to respond to all eventualities, is deeply attached.
“Even when he’s not having a great day, he’s a regular player who keeps his team going. Put like that, it’s simple, but moving forward, putting his team back in the lead when you’re a little caught up by the rhythm, it is the most difficult and precious. Mentally, it is very important.”
Dimitri Yachvili, France television consultant and former scrum half of the XV of Franceat franceinfo: sport
“What Greg accomplished against Italy is remarkable in density and consistency”, greeted the manager Raphaël Ibanez after the victory against Italy. He also underlined the “consistency in his placement and in the energy he brings to all of his teammates.”
The Rochelais is just as important defensively, sometimes pruning (11 tackles against Italy, nine against Ireland), sometimes poison in the rucks. By this last aspect, it illustrates a mutation of the XV of France. From now on, it is particularly applied to battle in the game on the ground to slow down the opponents without being caught by the patrol. This strategy was carried out brilliantly in the victories against the All Blacks and Ireland, when this was an area in which the British teams have long been more efficient and concerned.
In the wake of a Grégory Alldritt who enjoys the exercise, the Blues now have better control of the rhythm of the matches. “When I was his coach in La Rochelle, I asked him why he went to all the rucks. He explained to me that it was his role in the system. He excels in that (…) Greg has this desire to rot the rucks”confided Thursday his former coach in La Rochelle Grégory Patat in the columns of The Team.
In addition to his physical qualities and his game intelligence, the player with 28 caps has established himself as the leader of the locker room. He is one of those who regularly speak before games, during gatherings on the pitch. A status that he also owes to his ability to be “reassuring despite its young age”supports Dimitri Yashvili. “He already brings a lot of maturity which is very important when you are part of the backbone of a team.”
Even if the British do not have the exclusivity of the phlegm, difficult not to hypothesize that the composure of Grégory Alldritt perhaps comes to him in part from his father, born in Stirling, in Scotland. This will only make the famous Flower of Scotland which he will hear on Saturday. “Murrayfield is a somewhat atypical stadium, it makes you feel the weight of the storytestifies Dimitri Yashvili. Flower of Scotland”is such a beautiful anthem that you almost feel Scottish when you listen to it.”
“The emotional side is going to be very strong, it’s going to be an even more special moment for him. But so far he seems to be handling it well.”
Dmitri Yachviliat franceinfo: sport
For his third game in blue, the first against his fatherland, the kid had planted the first two tries of his career in the flocked jersey of the rooster. For the pressure, we will go back. Since then, nothing has really changed. If he took the bottle by becoming one of the team’s captains, Grégory Alldritt intends to play a nasty trick again on the XV du Chardon.