Do we approach a match against the reigning world champions differently?
Antoine Dupont:
We prepare all the matches in the same way, to win them, as seriously as possible.
Afterwards, it is sure that when you have an opponent of this stature, there is always a little more concentration, involvement.
But we haven't revolutionized anything that has made it work for some time now (...) It's comparable to the match against New Zealand (in November 2021) because these are teams that we meet very infrequently .
This is what has been done best in world rugby for several decades.
There is a lot of excitement, we are here to play these kinds of matches, to be able to face the best.
In these weeks, there is always something extra.
Does playing at the Vélodrome, a stadium that has often succeeded for the Blues in the past, give an additional dimension to this meeting?
For my part, this is the first time that I have had the chance to play in this mythical stadium, which, according to what people say, manages to create an incredible atmosphere and atmosphere when you play there.
Let's hope that the match goes in this direction and that the supporters respond present.
I don't have too many doubts about that.
We are very happy to be able to come and play here and we hope that it will bring us luck, as has been the case in the past for the French teams.
“There is obviously a lot of concentration, we all want to do well”
Do we still take pleasure in this kind of encounters or does the stakes go beyond everything?
You have to manage to find this pleasure in being there, in experiencing moments like that, in having the opportunity to play matches of this level in magnificent stadiums like this one.
Everything we live is magnificent.
You have to manage to take advantage of it, so that the stakes don't take precedence over everything, even if there is obviously a lot of concentration, which we all want to do well.
It has to come from the pleasure of playing, of winning together, of tackling together, of climbing together, of finding that joy on the pitch, otherwise it takes away a bit of meaning from everything we do.
Statements taken at a press conference
