Who was able to pierce the bubble? And import the Covid-19 from outside to the heart of the XV of France? It was however advertised as particularly hermetic, waterproof, impassable. The “severe” health protocol established by the French Federation, and its Six Nations counterparts had allowed the tournament to be held in extremis. And then the virus, variant English version, came to walk among the Blues, quietly. And there has been damage. Not from a health point of view since the affected actors are asymptomatic, but in terms of spread within the French workforce. A good part of the staff, Galthié, Servat, Ghezal, and a physical trainer whose identity has not been revealed, ten players including captain Charles Ollivon and Antoine Dupont, positive … The hecatomb leaves a serious doubt on the France – Scotland outfit this Sunday at the Stade de France.
How did we get here ? Why are the Blues affected if the health protocol has been respected and not the Irish, the Scots, the English, the Welsh or the Italians? Eyes first turned to the French team at 7, some elements of which came to strengthen the XV of France during high intensity training on the Thursday before the victory in Ireland (15-13), Sunday February 14 . Les Bleus du 7, caught up with the virus during their internship in Canet-en-Roussillon (Pyrénées-Orientales), have also withdrawn from the Madrid Tournament which began last weekend. However, it would seem that they are not the source of the contamination but on the contrary the victims.
Whispers to Marcoussis
So it took another flaw for the virus to reach its first tricolor trio last Tuesday, after tests carried out the day before: Fabien Galthié, the coach, William Servat, his assistant in charge of the conquest and the melee, and the physical trainer remained anonymous. It then spread among the players. In the columns of the Midi Olympique, Sunday, Serge Simon, the vice-president of the French Federation seemed categorical: “Patient zero, we know him: he is our physical trainer. How did he get the virus? In contact with France 7? Scientifically, nothing allows to affirm it or to deny it, we have no explanation on this subject. There are so many hypotheses … We could meet him at the airport, at the hotel, elsewhere … The delegation of the XV of France is 70 people. We see it everywhere, every day, zero risk does not exist. Simon goes a little fast by pointing to the “culprit”.
In Marcoussis, whispers, under the mantle, suggest another scenario. The bubble would indeed have been pierced at the beginning of the week leading to Ireland – France, and this despite the rules enacted. But not by the physical trainer erected as an unknown soldier.
Article original de: www.leparisien.fr
