“I saw the future. He runs, tackles, scores tries and his name is Gaël Fickou. “ While his sleek skull may, from a distance, evoke a crystal ball, Shaun Edwards has little in the way of other attributes typically associated with fortune tellers. However, it is in these terms that the harsh Englishman, now coach of the defense of the Blues, evoked, in 2012, an 18-year-old player who has not evolved the slightest minute in professional. Nine years have passed, and, at the time of hosting Wales, Saturday March 20 (9 p.m., at the Stade de France), the former “Future” Gaël Fickou is conjugated in the present.
At not yet 27 years old – he will celebrate them on March 26, when the Blues will complete their Six Nations Tournament against Scotland – the Stade Français player is gaining more and more importance in the jersey struck by the rooster. Unstoppable holder of Fabien Galthié’s team, Gaël Fickou, who will release his 62e international cape Saturday, was already a veteran of the group at the start of the term of the coach of Lot. However, last year, the player did not feel the soul of a gang leader. “Leader, I think I am; boss, no “, he expressed during the preparation of the 2020 Tournament. “I took on more responsibilities, but captaincy or networking, explaining everything to everyone is not my thing. I know how to say things, but I stay in my place. “
“I’ve been told many times that I could be a great defenseman because I didn’t miss a lot of tackles. “
In one year, this place has widened. “It has grown. Gaël commands respect ”, breathes Cyril Baille, the left pillar of the Blues. Appointed captain of the French defense, the center harangues its troops on the meadow, and leads by example. Benefit of the meetings behind closed doors, pandemic obliges, we now hear him give voice in all stages, since the beginning of the Six Nations.
Offensive “defense captain”
In 2012, his overall performance at the European Under-18 Championship, marked by a high-flying try, had earned Gaël Fickou the attention of Shaun Edwards. Recognized technician – he notably developed the defense which allowed the Welsh to win four victories in the Tournament, including two grand slams – the Englishman has never lost sight of the Var. “I’ve seen him play since he was 18, and I’ve followed his career. In a way, I always knew he would be a great leader ”, expressed in 2020 the former captain of the England team at XIII after the victory of the Blues in Wales (27-23).
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