Special correspondent at Twickenham
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Ranking Tournament 6 of Nations
What difference does it make that
the England opener is Marcus Smith rather than Owen Farrell
?
Antoine Dupont:
Smith really likes to attack the line, he is more dangerous than Farrell in duels.
Who, he is stronger in defense.
Smith is less in management than Farrell, but having him on the bench is an asset for England.
We know that international matches are very close in the last twenty minutes…
With Smith, should we expect less kicking than usual from the English?
The strategy of a team does not depend on a single man.
There will be footwork to put us under pressure.
That's something Smith knows how to do too...
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Does not having won the Tournament at Twickenham since 2005 worry you?
Not especially.
We played two matches here which ended in very little (
overtime and penalty shootouts in 2020, narrow 2-point defeat in 2021, editor's note
).
We know that we are in the nails, that we are capable of… But we also know that it will be very difficult to win here.
We prepare for this kind of match, the best to play.
“Two years ago, we were already predicted favorites and we lost”
England have been struggling for a year
.
Does that mean it's the right year to finally win at Twickenham?
No, no, I'm really not sure about that.
Two years ago, we were already predicted favorites and we lost.
When you see the English workforce, all these great players, all this experience… We know that they are capable of bringing out their best rugby in the big moments.
We trust them for that.
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Six months before the World Cup, would it be important to beat England in their Temple?
You don't need to contextualize like that.
We are in our competition.
We know that you have to win here to still hope to win the Tournament.
We focus on this goal.
What do you expect from
Jonathan Danty
, back in the center?
We just expect him to play the way he knows how.
That with his qualities of power and explosiveness, he takes the midfield.
Like last year.
Statements taken at a press conference