A gargantuan kick against the vice-world champions England and brilliant performances in the 2020 Tournament seemed to have cemented Anthony Bouthier’s place at post 15.
A year later, the Montpellier is more vacillating, after having chained matches half-fig, half-grape. A fragile position, which Brice Dulin took advantage of in the fall.
During two matches, against Italy and then England, the Rochelais with 31 selections displayed all his class, carrying on his shoulders a young team of France overhauled.
Designated best player in the Autumn Nations Cup, the former rear of Racing 92, Agen or Castres seems to have taken the measure.
On Wednesday, during the high intensity training of the week, he also wore the blue chasuble of the probable holders, Bouthier that of the substitutes.
“He gave us all the guarantees for the job. He is a real back, he is very good on air, offensive or defensive balls. He also brings us his experience. He has a quality left foot and we don’t have a left-hander in the team, ”said Laurent Labit, the forward coach of the XV of France.
–
Dulin Advantage
Fortune opener in an MHR that is going badly (13e of the Top 14), Bouthier, him, struggles to find the sensations and the performances which had made of the former mason, still player of Federal 1 less than five years ago, the beautiful story of the beginning of Fabien Galthié’s mandate.
“Anthony had a sprained knee. He did not return until the end of December. To fully regain his abilities, he needs a little time. In addition, he is in a club which is in a difficult situation so it is more complicated to get back in the saddle “, tempered Labit, who assured that the staff of the Blues retained” great confidence in him “.
A feeling shared by performance director Thibault Giroud: “There is always a difference between coming back to training and coming back to competition. He has great energy qualities, there is no problem with his playing volume but he must put everything in order. “
Because, failing to be at his best level, Anthony Bouthier has never really disappointed in Blue. But Dulin seems to have returned the Montpellier in his own 22: the Rochelais, by his qualities of recovery, his game as long as it is precise or his qualities on high balls, seems more “Galthié-compatible”.
“A new generation has arrived and created something extraordinary. I was happy to join this adventure. I’m probably closer to the end than the beginning, but I still take as much pleasure as the first time, ”admitted Dulin recently, aware of having come a long way.
–
