Historic success at Twickenham
“We needed it.
Winning in the Tournament is always amazing.
And winning at Twickenham adds a special flavor to the game.
We are satisfied, but as we all said, we have to keep our feet on the ground.
And the training has not changed.
We resumed the same habits on Monday and we are working even harder for this weekend.
To discover
Calendar and results 6 Nations
Ranking Tournament 6 of Nations
Don't get drunk against the Welsh
“The objective on Saturday is to build our match and our victory.
What we did last weekend.
There was certainly a big gap in the score but, if we look at the first half, we took the points when it was necessary to take them.
We knew how to build our match.
We will have to be on the same line this weekend.
The primary objective is to win this game.
We are all aware of what we have to do to possibly regain this first place for a few hours.
Or more, we hope... The other objective is to restore the same intensity that we put at Twickenham.
Playing just like we did, we focus on that.
Rather than on a possible score..."
Read alsoSix nations: in the event of Ireland's defeat, the XV of France will win the Tournament if…
His view on his Tournament
“Of course I was not happy with my first two performances
(against Italy and Ireland, he was quickly released after the expulsion of Haouas against Scotland, editor’s note)
.
I had said it, I had assumed it.
Afterwards, when we are in this situation, we can look for excuses, or put the blame on the staff or his teammates.
But I've been taught since I was little that that's not the solution.
You just have to put your head down, work hard and do your best to get back to your best level.
This weekend, I was quite happy to get closer to my best level.
I think I can do even better and I will continue to work.
(...) Since the start of the Tournament, we have worked a lot, we have trained very hard.
And all of that allowed me and the team to finally play a big game against England.”
Whether positive or negative, the only things that affect me and that I keep is above all the opinion of my coaches
Gregory Alldritt
How he takes criticism
“I like to read positive articles about me, but I also read negative ones.
To be honest, whether positive or negative, the only things that affect me and that I keep is above all the opinion of my coaches - in the club or in the France team - and my teammates.
Almost all of us read the press, but I don't watch it all the time."
The large contingent of Toulouse in the France team
“There have been a lot of Toulouse people in the France team for four years, we are starting to get used to it!
(
Smile
) It's also important for any player to forget his club game plan.
We switch to what is done here, different from what is done in Toulouse.
In the end, we are all going in the same direction and we are all connected on the ground.
Read alsoXV of France: towards a tenure of Taofifenua and a return of Atonio against the Welsh
Ollivon who can help out in the second line
“Charles has already played second line.
So, if that happens, he will do it without worry.
It's super important – and we often laugh about it – we are all
(the third lines)
able to go up to the second line and help out.
If ever it's Charles, he'll do it without worry.
If I happened to do it at the end of the match, I would do it too.
(He waits a bit)
I'm always told that's where I'm going to end up...
(Smile)
Charles' return to the France team happened naturally.
He was already well integrated into the group.
He is someone who is important to all of us.
Afterwards, there is only one truth, that of the field, and he had very good matches.
The return of Uini Atonio
"We all gave him a little slap at the end of training because he was late for weight training...
(Smile)
It's super important that everyone be on hand to prepare for this kind of match.
We must salute what has been our strength for four years: the workforce that we have.
I think there are 60-70 players who are really competent and can wear the shirt.
Last Saturday, "Doudou" Aldegheri and Sipili
(Falatea)
have been amazing.
We must salute the depth of the workforce that we have in the France group.
(...) Uini will bring us what he has been bringing us for 3-4 years: he is a very physical player, very dense in collisions, very good in winning.
He is over 30, this should be his 50th cap this weekend.
He has a lot of experience and knows how to play high level matches.
