Like eleven of your teammates, you have been affected by the Covid. How are you ?
Charles Ollivon:
I'm doing very well.
I had a good week of preparation.
It went well.
I felt good.
"READ ALSO -
Six Nations: the French patient challenged by England
What state of mind did you find yourself in on Sunday in Marcoussis?
In a good atmosphere, as usual.
With lots of smiles.
We were all very happy.
It is always the same happiness to meet again.
What was your message during this reunion?
The pleasure of being together, of being part of this adventure which should take us until 2023. I am almost certain that everyone is aware of the privilege of being there, of being able to practice our passion.
My speech is simple: have fun, work well, and measure the chance of playing these big matches where we have to give everything, leave everything, for our supporters.
"Everything is very clear in our heads"
Did you digest this Covid episode? And are you annoyed by the media coverage it has taken?
Regarding the media coverage, we know the rules of the game. We accept them.
There is no problem with that.
And, quite frankly, we were all very happy to see each other again.
We immediately switched to preparation, simply and naturally.
We attacked with one goal, this match at Twickenham.
It has been a very busy week.
And for the past few hours I have felt that the pressure has been mounting in the group.
This is a good thing.
Are you not worried that this whole story has broken the dynamic of the team?
To be quite honest, nothing has changed.
The atmosphere, the trust, everything is intact.
We want to be at the game, to continue to move forward in our project.
Everything is very clear in our heads.
"I didn't really follow what the English said recently, but we know very well that they respect us"
Many of you haven't played for a month. Are you worried about the pace that the English will impose on you?
We know they are going to add intensity, but we also prepared well.
We are within the standards, no problem with that.
This week, we ran a lot, we increased in intensity in the volume of races and contacts.
There were no big differences, we were almost all at the same level.
We are reassured about this.
There is confidence in the group.
We rely on that, on our qualities and our strengths.
Last December, Eddie Jones mocked the French team aligned before the final of the Nations Cup. This time, his words were much more laudatory…
The last time, a few sentences had been a source of motivation for us, it's true… I didn't really follow what the English said recently, but we know very well. although they respect us.
And we respect them too.
England have won their last two competitions (
the 2020 Tournament and the Autumn Nations Cup, Editor's note
).
We are very aware of the task that awaits us this Saturday.
Read also
Six Nations: why the Rose has lost its spice