After the first big test passed in November against the All Blacks, is this match against Ireland another major test for the XV of France?
Romain Ntamack:
Indeed, it will be a big test match, after the November one against the All Blacks.
We know the Irish, we know they beat the All Blacks before us in November.
We know all their qualities.
It will be a big test to gauge yourself, to know where you are.
But we are preparing very well, we expect to play a big game this weekend.
We will not be surprised on Saturday.
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Against the Italians, you experienced waste with Antoine Dupont in your kicking game. Was it due to a lack of rhythm?
Waste, yes and no... Because we had a good occupation, we left the Italians in their camp.
I don't think we had that much waste in this game.
Even if there are always things to improve and it will have to be done on Saturday.
Once again, Antoine knows the match he made, I know the match I made.
I looked at it and I'm pretty happy with it.
I don't have much to change for this weekend.
The team needs to raise its level a notch or two to hope to make these Irish people doubt and hope for it.
Did the performance of the Irish against the Welsh surprise you?
Surprised, no.
We had seen their matches in November and their match against the All Blacks had shocked us enormously, they had surprised us with their physical qualities and the game they had offered that day.
We expected them to do a game like this and we expect them to do the same on Saturday.
We tried to analyze them, to see their strengths and weaknesses, and what we can offer them to undermine them.
We won't have to do the same thing as against the Welsh, otherwise we risk having the same difficulties.
The Irish rarely surprise us.
We have a strategy in place, which everyone knows.
We will try to apply it to the letter to undermine the Irish.
Romain Ntamack
You are going to play at the Stade de France. Does that make you favorites against Ireland?
No, I do not think so.
The Irish fully deserve their status as the third nation in the world rankings
(France is fifth, editor's note)
, they have demonstrated it for a good number of matches.
They are undefeated for nine matches
(last defeat last year against France).
They had a huge November tour, they just had a great game against the Welsh.
Even if they come to the Stade de France, I don't think we're the favourites.
We will leave them that status.
But we will do everything to try to win this weekend.
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Ireland excels in the strategic control of its matches. How do you approach the strategic aspect of this match?
This will be very important data.
But at the international level, there is no victory without a good mastery of strategy.
We know that the Irish are very strong on this.
But in terms of strategy, we have made a lot of progress over the past two years.
We control it quite well.
We won a bunch of great matches thanks to our strategy and our occupation.
We have to raise our level compared to last weekend.
But we have a strategy in place, which everyone knows.
We will try to apply it to the letter to undermine the Irish.
Sexton is the emblem, the captain of this team.
He is one of the best openers in the history of international rugby
Romain Ntamack
Jonathan Danty is forfeited for this match. What does this change for you?
It doesn't change much for me or other players.
It's true that "Jo" was an important part of our system.
We will have to compose without him this weekend.
We are disappointed for him because he had been in good shape for a lot of matches, he was doing us a lot of good.
Players will replace him and they will get there with flying colors, I'm sure.
We will have to adapt to his absence and deal with it.
But we will find the solutions.
How do you view your vis-à-vis Jonathan Sexton, 36, 112 selections?
I have a lot of admiration for him.
We all know him, he is a model of longevity.
He is the emblem, the captain of this team.
He is one of the best openers in the history of international rugby.
Despite his age, he is still incredible, he makes great matches every weekend.
It's an incredible weapon for them.
We will focus on him, but not only, they have excellent players on all lines.
Everyone has to be careful but Sexton is one of their showpieces.
You're going to have to put a lot of pressure on him.
Statements taken at a press conference