Couple David Reyrat
Posted 2 hours ago, Updated 46 minutes ago
The All Blacks improved their skills in front of 10,000 fans. CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
New Zealand opened its training at the Chaban-Delmas stadium to the public on Monday. A moment of total communion with his followers.
With no match scheduled this week, the New Zealanders planned to open their training sessions to the public this Monday, September 18. A moment of exchange that would initially be held at the Moga stadium in Bègles. “But we quickly saw that it would be too small! We only had 3,000 places available and people stopped me on the street to ask me about them.», confided the mayor of the town, Clément Rossignol Puech, to the regional newspaper Sud-Ouest. A madness that pushed the different parties to move the session to the UBB stadium, the Chaban-Delmas stadium in Bordeaux.
For an incredible popular success. 10,000 people kicking and vibrating, clapping and shouting. A training session that looks like a set show with music and commentary on the speaker’s microphone, in English and French, to announce the different phases of the session.
At the end, assistant coach Joe Schmidt, who worked at Clermont (from 2007 to 2010), took his turn to address the microphone to the fans of the legend dressed in black. “We feel better and better. After losing against Les Bleus (the opening match, editor’s note), we were disappointed for a week. But after our stay in Bordeaux I think we will improve our level. We have a few days off, we are going to visit the city. And they told us that there is good wine here…» A compliment that evidently provoked great applause, reports Sud-Ouest.
A few minutes later, it’s time to run. Spectators run out of the stands to have a photo, a flag, a shirt, a ball and even a pair of shoes signed… The players, like perfect professionals, give autographs and selfies with a smile. Not forgetting to send some balloons to the crowd to definitely ensure its popularity. Before a clap as farewell.
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