It’s a special top 14 season that has started for the internationals of the XV of France. Next June, coach Fabien Galthié will unveil the list of players who will prepare for the World Cup in France, scheduled from September 8 to October 28, 2023.
Jelonch: “If you play halfway, you hurt yourself”
Until then, there is a season to play with this dilemma: to be competitive to be among the 42 elected in June, without getting injured. The third line Anthony Jelonch (19 selections) will not change anything, quite the contrary. According to him, playing with the handbrake would be worse: “We will have to go through very good club matches if we want to be selected. This year, it will be all year round. You have to be 100%. If you play games halfway, that’s where you hurt yourself.”
His club teammate, hooker Julien Marchand (21 caps), also wants to respect his Stade Toulousain club: “A year is close, but it is also very far. Everyone still thinks about it a little bit, but we must not forget the essential things. The collective and especially the club, which is very important to perform well all season.”
33 elected at the end
Coach Fabien Galthié will unveil a list of 42 players in June who will prepare for the World Cup for two months. On August 28, 10 days before the opening match against New Zealand, nine players will have to pack their bags and only 33 of them will therefore have the right to participate in this World Cup.