How did you live these two months without playing?
Romain Ntamack:
I knew you had to go through this at one point or another in a rugby career.
In my misfortune, I was lucky that my season was not over.
I took the opportunity to recharge the batteries.
I was able to go to the sea for a few days with friends, to the mountains too.
It allowed me to clear my mind, to think a little about something other than rugby.
Do you have a soup or mash recipe to share?
It is true that it was a rather difficult period for a fortnight after the operation.
I couldn't open my mouth too much and I had to eat things that were quite soft: compotes, mashed potatoes ... I was lucky that my mother made me a lot of small dishes, things that were quite substantial so that I don't lose too much weight.
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Do you plan to play the rest of the Six Nations Tournament with France?
The priority, already, is to come back to the club.
We will then see if I am recalled against England (
March 13, Editor's note
) and what role I will eventually have to play.
For now, after two months, I just want to find the land.
"
The blue jersey does not belong to anyone, it must be earned
"
Was the victory against England last year in the Tournament a founding act of the Fabien Galthié era?
It was indeed one of the matches that made us realize our potential and the talent we had.
The one in Wales also afterwards.
These matches marked our beginning of our adventure together and we have been on a good footing ever since.
Does this success in Wales remain a benchmark match for you?
I have the impression that it was my first international match so much that one spoke to me about it.
I think I had also made very good matches before in the France team.
Then there was the context, it had been ten years since France had won in Cardiff and that marked the spirits.
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What did you think of the performances of your substitute, Matthieu Jalibert, during the first two matches of the Tournament?
Like the team, he was good.
It's a good thing, it shows that there is potential at the opening.
Are you worried that the competition has scored points in your absence?
The jersey doesn't belong to anyone, so you have to earn it.
I don't think I have to hide from the performances I was able to do last year.
I have shown beautiful things many times with this France team jersey and I will have to remake it to win my place.
The health controversy, "
I don't think it changed anything for the players
"
Does playing in the same club as Dupont in Toulouse constitute an advantage?
It's good to have automatisms in a club and to be able to keep them in the France team.
It saves us time on a lot of things.
In addition, we get along very well in life.
I think he must have missed me during those two months (
laughs
).
I look forward to being able to play again at his side.
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Can the health problems encountered recently by the XV of France break its momentum?
Even though I was outside of it all, I followed like everyone else.
Knowing the players, I don't think it changed anything.
We, as players, our only interest is to win every game, to win titles.
So what happens outside of sport does not matter to us, it is only the field that interests us.
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