This Friday, September 8th, the World Cup in France begins with the opening clash between France’s XV and the All Blacks. It’s an opportunity to shed light on five questions that you may have during the competition.
This Friday, September 8th marks the start of the Rugby World Cup in France. And for the opening match between France’s national team and the All Blacks, explore five interesting facts about the players.
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Antoine Dupont, petit mais costaud
The first statistic is about the height of the players in the French national rugby team. And it is the captain Antoine Dupont who is the shortest among the 33 players. Standing at 1.74m, he appears small in a group that has an average height of 1.87m.
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Son coéquipier au Stade Toulousain, Thomas Ramos fait lui aussi partie des plus petits avec ses 1m78. Logique pour des demi-de-mêlée, alors que les deuxièmes lignes Thibaud Flament, Bastien Chalureau et Romain Taofifenua dépassent la barre des deux mètres.
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Le colosse Uini Atonio
After height, comes weight! And unsurprisingly, it is a pillar who takes the crown for the heaviest player on the scale. With a team that has an average weight of 100 kg, Uini Atonio surpasses everyone with his 147 kilograms.
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Born in New Zealand, this opening match will be special for him, as he has experienced playing for the All Blacks U20 team. He was not kept by the coach, who deemed him « too big and lazy. » There is no doubt that he will want to make an impact on the New Zealand defense.
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Gabin Villière et le casque de sa mère
He doesn’t go unnoticed on the field, and for good reason, in addition to his explosiveness and his determination to always move forward, Gabin Villière is recognizable by his red helmet, which he wears in every game.
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Why does the winger of RCT never part with his headgear? In 2022, he provided several answers to that in Midi Olympique. Firstly, for his physical integrity, he stated, « It gives me a sense of security, it protects my scalp. »
Can’t reword.
But the genesis is completely different: « In college, I took a big blow to the head. In response, my mother bought me a helmet. I said I would never wear it. Eventually, I put it on. And I haven’t taken it off since. I like it, » he explained. Finally, he jokes about how it allows his parents to recognize him more easily on the field.
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Les lunettes de Fabien Galthié
The coach of the French national rugby team is also not immune to the curiosity surrounding the team. And of course, it is his glasses that generate a lot of discussion every time he appears.
Can the French rugby team anticipate the New Zealand haka in any special way during the 2023 Rugby World Cup? Gabin Villière provides the answer.
If he claims that they are « not to his mother’s taste, » with this oversized plastic pair, he prioritizes practicality over aesthetics since these glasses are suitable for sports activities.
La plume de Thibaud Flament
Finally, if you have any questions about the giant Thibaud Flament who will wear the number 5, know that while many players like to sleep, play cards, or take a walk before the game, he has another occupation.
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Indeed, the second row of Stade Toulousain enjoys writing before matches, as it helps them to feel calm and alleviate the pressure, which one can imagine must be at its peak this Friday before facing the All Blacks.
