The coaches themselves, and France’s Fabien Galthie is absolutely no exception, routinely brush off reporters’ questions on exactly this topic, insisting that problems would be worse if there was no choice to make.
Remember what Galthie said after his ‘impress me’ France squad gave up a big first-half lead to Scotland in the first World Cup warm-up match way back in August? “The players are growing, the team too, and that’s why I don’t have a headache. I would if it was the other way around and players weren’t living up to expectations.”
That’s a typical variation in Galthie major on the standard speak-plenty-say-little, fill-theair-with-words theme of coaches when asked about their selection options.
It was also the match in which a certain French 20-year-old called Louis Bielle-Biarrey made the step-up from age-grade international rugby to senior international rugby.
He now has five tries in six Tests, and has overtaken Gabin Villiere as France’s first-choice 11.
In other circumstances, Bordeaux youngster Bielle-Biarrey – who skipped the Under-20 World Championship tournament in South Africa to join the senior squad – would be playing a greater role in France’s World Cup coverage, whether he wanted to or not.
But that injury to Antoine Dupont and the fact that Damian Penaud, over on the opposite wing (officially, at least), is racing up Les Bleus’ try-scorer’s list - he’s now second, with 35 to his name, three behind Serge Blanco - means he’s been allowed to hover serenely under most media radars.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin October 15, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin October 15, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Minikin sparks a party at Twickenham for Yorkshire
EUPHORIC scenes swept round Ionians ground as Lewis Minikin dashed over to score Yorkshire's fourth try to send the white rose to Twickenham for the first time in 16 years.
Rebels facing tough test against 'Canes
SUPER Rugby Pacific play-off spots were confirmed this weekend, with the soon-to-be extinct Melbourne Rebels living to fight another day in eighth place.
Ospreys' Nicky just too tricky for Cardiff
LEICESTER-BOUND, Smith scored Nicky two tries as Ospreys squeezed into the playoffs with a bonus-point victory over a battling Cardiff in an enthralling game.
Quins want to throw fitting farewell party
HARLEQUINS stars Shaunagh Brown, Rachael Burford and Emily Scott start their final game for the club today.
Mapletoft set for Georgia challenge
ENGLAND U20s head coach Mark Mapletoft has confirmed his 30-player squad that travel to Georgia next week in preparation for next month's World Championship.
Gloucester put faith in 'some old heads'
IT was typical of Gloucester's season - make that the last couple that when they came up against a front five in last weekend's Challenge Cup final that contained four World Cup winners they were missing three frontline forwards.
Smith has final say for Saints
NORTHAMPTON Saints, having run teams ragged in glorious fashion all season, scrummaged and muscled their way to their first Premiership final since 2014 but a resilient Saracens contested the issue until the final whistle.
Finally! Bath hold nerve to see off Sharks
BATH are one victory away from winning the Premiership for the first time after surviving a Sale comeback, but they are likely to be underdogs against a Northampton that has been a couple more years in the making.
Chessum 'gutted' to miss out on England
OLLIE Chessum admits he is \"gutted\" to be missing out on a busy summer with England in the southern hemisphere.
Boyd got me back on track - Ludlam
LEWIS left the Ludlam Franklin's Gardens turf in a Northampton jersey for perhaps the last time on Friday night, six years after he thought about ending his career because he feared it was going nowhere.