A few days ago, before his departure for Marcoussis, Patrick Arlettaz gave L’Indépendant almost an hour to look back on his first season with the XV of France. The Blues attack coach admits to having had a year that was as complicated as it was emotionally incredible. Interview.
What initial assessment do you draw from your first season in the staff of the XV of France?
Very good and less good, inevitably. First of all, it was a slightly accelerated adaptation period because we jumped straight into the Tournament. I was discovering a little bit of everything. The training methods, the players, the competition, the stadiums, the media pressure, the training… Then we experienced a very difficult start to the Tournament. We weren’t ready, for several reasons. On the other hand, afterwards, it was magical. Victory at the Millennium (24-45 against the Welsh)it’s a superb memory. It’s a stadium that I love. I always dreamed of going there and having a team play. And this last minute victory against the English (33-31 in Lyon)which makes us second in the Tournament. When we beat the English, it always has even more flavor…
Then there was this tour in Argentina, where we were much more ready. With young people and enthusiasm. We do a great first test (victoire 13-28)then the extra-sporting affairs gave a much more mixed aspect… It was complicated.
I really believe in time and trust.
How did you find your place within the staff?
Already, there was a real desire on the part of everyone who was there to welcome me with my differences. Because when you take the photo of the federal coach of the France team, you don’t think of me right away! But they made room for me in a very nice way. They wanted to integrate me very quickly. And then I made the effort to understand quite quickly what they expected and what the requirements were at that level. Now I feel right in it. Which was not the case during the start of the Tournament. I really believe in time and trust. And for there to be trust, you need tests, to see how people react.
Is the stress level different than in a club?
Less than the USAP, strangely. It’s different. We quickly realize, however, that it has a global impact. But it’s Fabien (Galthié) who is the boss. My position is not quite the same as what I had in Perpignan. The stress is always there, of course, because we want it to succeed, for it to work, for the project to work, for the players to be happy, and for them to perform well on the pitch. When you want all that, it inevitably creates stress.
What are the big changes compared to daily club life?
This is mainly the preparation period. You have to have a playing system that brings together very gifted players, but with different sensibilities, who play all year round with a different system. And we’re in a bit of an emergency all the time. We have to get to the essentials very quickly, make it very clear, put them in the best conditions and manage to make them play together. It has to be very precise, that everyone clearly understands where we want to go, and that we manage to create a common philosophy. And that’s a little more complicated than in a club.
We’ll be amazed!
You were talking about Cardiff, you also discovered Murrayfield, the Vélodrome… What emotions did that give you?
It’s something different. At Aimé-Giral, I had a lot of emotions. It’s my club, my audience. I always had memories of when I was part of that audience. There was something emotional about it. But there, really taking it as a rugby enthusiast, indeed, these are magical moments. The Welsh songs, the arrival at the Millenium Stadium behind the horses, the atmosphere at Murrayfield, the end of Flower of Scotland played on the bagpipes on the roof of the stadium… It’s a real eye-catcher! It becomes a fabulous spectacle. When you see it once, you want to pinch yourself a little and tell yourself that it’s still cool.
How are things going with the players?
For now, very good. My relationship with them, even if I don’t want to speak for them, is rather positive. They knew me more or less, even if they didn’t know me personally. They knew what style of character was coming. I simply attached myself to one thing: to be the same. They weren’t surprised, and I don’t think I’ve changed.
The tour in Argentina, how did you experience it?
It was hard emotionally. Because we had to ask ourselves extra-sporting questions. We know it can happen, but we are never completely prepared. So it was difficult. Difficult to see two, three players of ours in difficulty. I said it, I really like the players. It always touches me a lot when they go through personal difficulties. And even more so when we are closest to them, and it is while we are more or less responsible for them.
The future now is the November tests. What does that mean to you?
I would have done the trick, eventually. I will only have the World Cup left to discover (in 2027 in Australia, Editor’s note). I’m going to discover the Stade de France. And in the three teams we face, there are two that I have never played. So I’m very eager, very enthusiastic and very excited. It’s going to be three very high-level matches. And then, playing the Blacks, for a rugby player, it always has a special flavor. So there you go, it’s going to be great. I’m going to take advantage of it, as I should.
The Blacks? Without doubt one of the most exciting matches since I started.
The France-All Blacks is always a special match for the general public…
It’s crazy exciting. I was a spectator, like the others. I was also waiting for this match all year long. It’s a bit like France-Brazil in football. With all the clichés we see there. The haka, this legendary team, with legendary players. And with the impression, too, that we have a squad that can compete with this team. This is undoubtedly one of the most exciting matches since I started. In any case, it’s the one I’m looking forward to the most.
It will be next summer, but you will be going to New Zealand for the summer tour. Again, is this going to be a special moment?
Yes, it’s rugby country! I can’t wait to experience this, with this very strong Maori culture. I like it a lot. Everyone knows that I like the Islanders, I have been criticized for it several times, but I don’t hide it. So, discovering this country and everything that makes up their approach to rugby through this culture, I really like it.
For the tour in Argentina, Fabien Galthié called Melvyn Jaminet and Lucas Dubois. Two players you launched at USAP. Was it a source of pride for you?
Oh yes, of course. It’s something fabulous. When we take a young person from here, we see him grow, then we see him evolve with the pro team, we want him to succeed, of course, much more than anyone else . So to find these two players again was an immeasurable source of pride for me. But above all, sharing it with them. It was a real joy.
