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What is your state of mind after this
heavy defeat against Ireland
?
William Servat:
The result and the content of this match give us more energy to prepare well for the match that awaits us in Scotland.
Yes, we missed out against Ireland.
But today, all our preparation is focused on the match we are going to have.
And try to make this week as beautiful as possible.
How do you explain the scale of this rout?
I did not expect that.
We had prepared very well for this match but the reality is that we missed out.
I think we weren't wrong about the strategy.
But we haven't implemented what we wanted to do.
This is unfortunately what happened in this match.
We came away from this match with a lot of resentment and bitterness, as with everyone around us.
We really missed it, we analyzed the reasons for this failure.
We think we will find the keys to bounce back very quickly.
Everyone was touched by this performance.
But there is a lot of satisfaction for us, to the extent that we know in which direction to go to work.
It was a tough game, but in the 58th minute we were only one try away.
The actions of the game also meant that we went beyond the framework of the game that we had set for ourselves.
It is clear that the little things to be resolved have been established, we have discussed them with the staff.
Read alsoXV of France: the weather is clouding over for Fabien Galthié
Was the elimination from the World Cup digested? Ireland did not suffer from it for its part...
The match against Scotland will be prepared with the scars of the match against Ireland.
But Ireland's game was not prepared with South Africa in mind.
We prepared with the experience of South Africa, but in no case the stigmata.
This match had nothing to do with the World Cup.
We have new staff, new players... The players are used to the renewal of competitions.
From one scrum to another, you can be dominant and be dominated, in the same match.
Indeed, we were wrong, we missed out.
But the freshness of this new staff and some new players, added to the ambition and character of the old players, will be enough to prepare everyone for the match to come.
“An error on our part in the conduct of training last week”
As a forwards coach, have you been upset to see your players dominated in engagement and combat?
Ruck release speeds were lower than in previous matches.
We were at around 70% fast rucks, whereas we are usually at 80-85%.
This had consequences.
Despite everything, I don't think the Irish forwards really dominated us.
We had four plays in the opponent's 22m, we ended up with three penalties, which led to two tries.
We know how to make our forwards have more impact on the game.
You say you were wrong, but not on the strategy. On what points then?
On the implementation of our strategy.
We failed to do what we wanted to do.
This disturbed us.
It's not an excuse but it's a new mandate and there was this card which came very early.
Behind, we were unable to implement the objectives that we had set for ourselves.
With surely an error on our part in the conduct of training last week.
We talked about all of this, we are going to be more picky.
“Under pressure, that would mean there is a risk”
What training mistakes are you talking about?
We went into a lot of detail, we wanted to improve our different cells.
But in the end, we got less into the general.
We thought it was more acquired.
This may be where this little confusion came from.
But we know how to quickly change all that.
The boxes have also disorganized our structures, but that is not an excuse.
We should have anticipated.
Are you under pressure after this defeat, before going to Scotland?
Quite honestly, no.
Under pressure, that would mean there is a risk.
It's not negative pressure, but rather a desire to do well.
When you are a player, you know when you leave the field if you have performed well.
Sometimes we need to hear things, but we know exactly where we stand.
It’s the same for us on the staff.
At the end of this match, we realized that the solutions were simple and that we had missed out.
I can assure you that preparation has resumed at full intensity.
We have no pressure from the Federation, everything works very well.
How to rectify sideline problems?
These are the same cell problems.
We had problems on the sidelines in 2020. It is logical that the players need to digest a new system, with announcements that have been very successful at the club in the past (with Laurent Sempéré at the Stade Français, Editor's note).
This system, the players need to digest it.
Our organization was disrupted by the loss of a player (Paul Willemse).
We lost 4 out of 18 balls.
“The trust is not broken.
Don't expect huge changes »
You will be faced with a headache in the second row, with the suspension of Willemse and the injuries to Flament and Meafou...
That's a lot... (smile) The France team has great potential.
We saw the impact of Paul Gabrillagues and Posolo Tuilagi.
With incredible qualities.
We have the possibility of having several players who can play in the second line.
Posolo is someone who fits into rotations.
He made an impression during training.
Concerning Romain Taofifenua, he returned home, he is finishing recovering.
It has not yet been replaced, we are in discussions.
There is a player who potentially will arrive.
The absence of Antoine Dupont, who was brilliant with Toulouse against Bayonne, is causing a lot of talk...
Whether Antoine brings added value to any team, the answer is yes.
He chose the Olympic Games, it’s a challenge that is great for him.
Agreements were made between his club (Stade Toulousain) and the Federation.
But to repeat that Antoine is a very good player, we know that, but we knew he wouldn't be with us.
We have very good players with Maxime Lucu and Nolann Le Garrec, who are important for the France team.
Should we expect any changes to face Scotland?
Small adjustments should always be expected, but our selection principle is based on trust.
We have confidence in our players, we know that our players are competitors, they have self-esteem.
To brush all this aside would be a mistake.
There are important things to say to each other.
As we love the players we coach, we have to be honest in telling ourselves that we missed out and that we made mistakes.
This is what we have been doing since Friday.
But the trust is not broken.
Don't expect huge changes.