France unsettled by 'trauma' ahead of 2nd Argentina Test / Photo: © AFP
France unsettled by 'trauma' ahead of 2nd Argentina Test
France coach Fabien Galthie admitted on Friday that the events of the last week have traumatised his team as they prepare for Saturday's second Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Earlier in the day, lock Hugo Auradou, 20, and flanker Oscar Jegou, 21, both of whom made their Test debuts in the first Test victory, were formally charged with the aggravated rape of an Argentine woman following their match in Mendoza.
They deny the charge and have said they had consensual sex with the plaintiff.
The Auradou-Jegou scandal emerged a day after the banishment from the French camp on Sunday of full-back Melvyn Jaminet after a video of him making racist comments was published on social media.
"The impact on the group is real," Galthie told reporters on Friday. "It's a cataclysm, a trauma.
"Since Monday, we've obviously been taking the psychological aspect into account.
"Things have changed in that respect. It's an area in which we've invested a lot this week."
Auradou and Jegou have been charged with "the crime of sexual assault with penetration, aggravated by the participation of two people", according to the prosecutor's office.
If found guilty, the two players, who remain in custody while investigations continue, face between eight and 20 years in prison.
"It's difficult," said Galthie, pausing lengthily before continuing.
"It's very difficult. Along with (French Rugby Federation) president Florian Grill, vice-president Jean-Marc Lhermet, and the whole institution, we are doing everything we can to help the Argentinian justice system do its job.
"We are doing everything we can to help the delegation and all the players through this difficult time. We are working together to ensure that the Argentinian justice system does its job as well as possible."
- 'Difficult preparation' -
The two scandals have completely overshadowed a fine performance in Mendoza last week when an inexperienced France side, which included seven debutants, beat the Pumas 28-13.
"These are very difficult conditions in which to prepare," said Galthie.
"We've been going through some difficult times since Monday, with a trip with half the team to Uruguay and then with the preparations for Saturday's match.
"These are very particular times. It's a difficult preparation."
Scrum-half Baptiste Serin, who is captaining the side in the absence of Antoine Dupont -- a member of France's Sevens squad for the Olympics -- promised that France would be fully focussed for Saturday's match.
"I'm not going to lie to you, it's not the best of preparations," he said.
"But we have an international match to play and we're all focussed on what we can control.
"We've prepared as well as we could and we're going to put all our energy into this final battle.
"After that, we'll see, but we'll give everything for our group."
Lock Mickael Guillard and flanker Judicael Cancoriet have come into the side to replace the two arrested players while back-rowers Romain Briatte and Killian Tixeront, scrum-half Baptiste Jauneau and fly-half Leo Berdeu are all set to make their first Test appearances.
M.Rubio--ESF
