France XV: Nolann Le Garrec, a leadership role to play against the All Blacks

Before the announcement of the squad selected to challenge the All Blacks on home soil, Nolann Le Garrec was one of the French internationals who had expressed their desire to be part of it. "It's a dream to be able to play one of the best teams in the world, there, in the country of rugby. It's a great rugby challenge," he told Le Figaro at the end of April . Here we are. The 23-year-old scrum-half will challenge the three-time world champions (1987, 2011 and 2015). In the role of a boss, a guide for this heavily reworked French XV, deprived of many of its "premium players." He has this protected player status. With his 10 caps, the Breton is one of the key players in the French squad, one of the regulars in the blue house.

"It's true that today, in this new group which is a little younger, I have a little more leadership. I try to support, while remaining very humble, with Gaël (Fickou), Rabah (Slimani), Romain (Taofifenua), just on the strategic part on the field because I have a role and a position which is important, recognizes the scrum-half trained at Racing 92, which he will leave to join La Rochelle. I'm lucky to have been in the project for a few years. For the new ones who arrive, it's also good to have someone who can rely on that."

This team's strength lies in being able to maintain the same system and the same principle, regardless of the players.

Nolann Le Garrec

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He continued: "In the group, we have the old hands who make sure everything goes well. It's impressive what's been created in just a few days. It's a new role for me, but it's a role I like, one that I had more and more of at the end at Racing 92. I hope it's good leadership and that it will work on the pitch."

Also read: “When I was little, I was really into the All Blacks”: discovering Tom Spring, the most New Zealand of the French

Above all, this tour of New Zealand is an opportunity for him to show off, to remind the French staff of his fond memories. He had indeed started the last Six Nations Tournament as Antoine Dupont's understudy, but after the injury against Ireland of the best player in the world, he had fallen down the hierarchy, overtaken by Maxime Lucu, who was launched towards a stratospheric end to the season.

"The reality is that today we have a French team that is extremely efficient with competition in my position that is exceptional," underlines the man who shone in France A's narrow victory against England XV (26-24) . "We are not far from having the most well-stocked squad in the world in number 9s. And this French team performs all the time, so we have to be at the level all the time."

This Saturday in Dunedin , Nolann Le Garrec is expected to show his ability to lead the Blues, to manage the weak moments (which should be numerous), notably through his kicking game, and to attempt shots. "It's true that for some time now, the French team has been in the habit of using a lot of kicking, to win the ball back in more favorable positions. (...) We try to make the best use of the players and our qualities in this kicking game to find the right areas and try to put pressure on, explains the Vannetais. It's a bit of the strength of this team to be able to keep the same system and the same principle, regardless of the players."

After experiencing a downturn on the return leg of the Tournament, Racing's number 9 has rediscovered his striking force and effectiveness in unlocking matches. "I never really lost confidence, " he explained to us. "There were several things: a somewhat choppy period between the club and the French team, the change of coach (at Racing 92) , and inconsistent results with the club. Several elements that were not the most favorable."

Also read : France XV: five novices and a Le Garrec-Segonds hinge against the All Blacks

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He finally left Hauts-de-Seine after a full season, scoring 14 tries (including three braces) in 35 matches (25 starts). He had the bitter pill of not having qualified the club for the final stages for the first time since 2009-2010, after the semi-finals in 2021 and 2023, and the play-offs in 2022 and 2024. But a blessing in disguise, ultimately, which allowed him to fly to New Zealand.

Having arrived in the Land of the Long White Cloud, he prefers not to dwell on the criticism of the French XV , which arrived without its best players. "I turned on the TV with Émilien ( Gailleton ) in the room and it's true that there was a set and people were talking about it. That should serve as motivation for us. Afterwards, we must not fall into it either and stay our course," he insists. Recalling that he has already beaten the "men in black." It was last November at the Stade de France (30-29) and he came on in the 68th minute to replace Bordeaux full-back Romain Buros, who had an ankle and quadriceps injury. "It was the first time I played for the Blacks, so it's true that being able to beat them was great." Doing it again looks much tougher...