Olympics in crosshairs. “France 7” makes no mistake about getting a ticket to Tokyo and participating in the Olympic Games for the second consecutive Olympiad. He must win the Olympic qualifying tournament on Saturday and Sunday at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco. “Training week went very well,” said French coach Jerome Darrett. He had a lot of energy, very good mind and concentration. The group did things well. I can’t wait to fight there. This is an important step in going for a medal. The team has been preparing for this for a year.

Tile for Pierre-Gilles Lacafia

The only drawback: Pierre-Gilles Lakafia, 34, one of the group’s executives, suffered a thigh injury and missed the last chance at this TQO. “When we lose a player, it’s always annoying, but it’s been four years since we’ve grown our collective strength. No worries about it, no shock. On the contrary, it mobilizes more staff and players, ”suggests Jerome Darrett.

This is because the French team, which finished sixth in the final world circuit before the end of the tournament, has some assurances. In his game, his mood and strength. With some notable performances. The Blues advanced to the finals of the Vancouver and Hong Kong tournaments in 2019 and then to Hamilton in 2020. In 2019, they also finished third in Cape Town. “We were the best ranked team in all the countries we participated in this weekend on the world tour last year. So we can say that we are favorites. We’re ready for it, ”affirms Marvin O’Connor, former quintessential past Grenoble, Bayonne, Montpellier and Stade Franois.

It was legal for Gabin (Willier) to be with us on the adventure, and he had been involved in the Olympic program from the beginning.

Jerome Darrett

In their quest for the final ticket to the Tokyo Games, the “septists” record the return of the tricolor weight, with 7-year-old former player Gabin Villier being selected as the best player in the Hong Kong tournament before shining with Tollon and France’s Eleventh. The exclusion of the RCT from the competition for the final round of the championship eventually made “France 7″‘s business. “Everything in the Top 14 and Tollon. Finally, within a few days, at the start of the RCT season, I changed … I was always in touch with the French team at 7, and the opportunity presented itself and voila! This is good, I’m glad to have found this group, this framework: I’m been in contact with the boys, I’m overtaken them in Marcos … everything is naturally recreated, ”says the red-helmeted winger.

Jerome Dorrett is happy with the return of this newjet: “It is legal for Gabin to be with us on the adventure, and he has been involved in the Olympic program from the beginning. Standards, he has. He had to dust a little, but he adjusted very quickly. He is a handsome man who gets along with everyone. It would be nice to have a player like him and Jean-Pascal Barrack (a Clermont player) who knows France’s 16th. This puts pressure on our opponents. In the long run, if we take this step, it will show other countries that we are reaching out to Tokyo with ambitions and not going to Japan to participate. ”

We will be our biggest competitor. If we can deny our game, we can not stop ourselves

Stephen Perez

In Monaco, the French team managed to draw more for the group stage. The Blues will first have to flee Hong Kong, Chile, Uganda and Jamaica. Almost within their limits. “At age 7, you need experience and consistency. Too many changes can sink you in, explains Jerome Darrett. I do not mind. The team now knows how to draw. We know what to expect. “The rest will inevitably be more intense with clashes against other parts of the list, including Ireland, Mexico, Samoa, Tonga and Zimbabwe. A priori, the Irish are the most devious opponents, but “we know we can beat them, it’s happened many times on the world circuit, I do not remember losing against them”, Advance Marvin O’Connor.

Despite the vigilance, in their strengths, the Blues of 7 expects “a mental psych scientific battle” this weekend, O’Connor comments. “Our coach gives us a lot of flexibility to deal with our emotions. They will be tested hard, he warns. We must be strong in the head to prove that we deserve our place in the Olympics. His teammate Stephen Perez goes on to say: “We will be our biggest rival. If we can end our game, we can not stop ourselves. “So the wrong step is forbidden. Before trying to do better than 7^e Position (in 12 teams) won in 2016 in Rio.