Rugby World Cup 2023 / French XV – Gabin Villière, number 11 on borrowed time

Will Gabin Villière end up losing his starting place at the worst possible time? Thursday evening, leaving the Pierre-Mauroy stadium, this question topped the list of all those that animated Lille’s third half.

Against Uruguay, the Toulonnais again appeared brimming with energy but also showing a lack of success: he gave the impression of forcing his game by persisting in a frontal challenge. Without success and with frequent ball losses at the finish. Like a week earlier against New Zealand where two ill-timed restarts on his part could have been costly. His commitment is not in question and surely never will be, knowing the specimen. And to tell the truth, his statistics have been relatively flattering for a month: 4 matches, 1 try, 8 defenders beaten, 3 crossings, 78% of successful tackles… But the fact remains that, beyond the raw figures, Gabin Villière n he has not yet become the formidable all-rounder that France rugby discovered, in Blue, during the 2020-2021 season.

Offensively, defensively and in the ground game, he is one or two tones below his benchmark matches. His hyperactivity and his desire to do well even turn against him. After a four-game season and repeated physical problems (ligament, fibula, hand, etc.), we can understand it, even excuse it. “He is looking for confidence, he needs to take a positive action; he is missing that half-second to make the hook, the racket, to cross, to move, analyzes Xavier Garbajosa, consultant for our newspaper and the Via Midol show. He has accustomed us to often being dominant, this is not the case. He had a very tough season. He may not have fully digested the preparation yet.” It’s a long time coming, even though his performance against Australia was promising: “I can only repeat what I said a few weeks ago: Gabin needs playing time to get back on track, that’s all”agrees Pierre Mignoni, his manager in Toulon.

“Garba” pleads Villière’s case

The fact remains that a World Cup is not the most conducive setting for being patient. The hypothesis of seeing Gabin Villière give up his number 11 in the Premium team has gained substance over the days. The presence of Louis Bielle-Biarrey alongside Dupont, Alldritt and Ramos this Sunday in training suggests a possible change in the hierarchy. The young Bordeaux player should in all likelihood have his chance against Namibia. With, at the end of the day, a place to look for in view of the cleaver meetings. Unlike Gabin Villière, everything is smiling for the original Isérois currently: very little used in Lille, he was in the right place at the right time to score a new try, the second of his French summer. At the Vélodrome, “LBB” will have a gold card. Will he be able to push the limits even further, having already been a surprise guest during the preparation? If his offensive talent is obvious, he must still assert, at the highest level, his ability to respond in defense and under high balls.

Sectors where Gabin Villière, even in delicacy, provides guarantees. Xavier Garbajosa thus pleads in favor of maintaining the original Norman for the final phases, with a view to the duels against South Africa and/or Ireland in particular: “I remain convinced that in very high-level matches, in matches that will count, his ability to scratch the balls, to hang on, to play duels in the air or in the race will be essential to us.” According to the last training and the probable composition for Namibia, the French staff intends to let Villière breathe before finding him at his best level. Without what…