The coach in charge of the French forwards returned to the new living environment of the Blues this Tuesday at a press conference. He also spoke about the respect owed to the All Blacks.
What do the All Blacks inspire in you?
William Saves : Above all, we are enthusiasts who love our sport. The All Blacks are the team that everyone dreams of. Having the chance to meet them is still incredible. The haka and everything that happens around it… This match is special in many ways. New Zealand is a team that inspires dreams, which produces Rugby so ambitious that many young people are inspired by it. We have the chance to face them on Saturday evening.
Is this really a chance?
This is a great opportunity, although it will also be very difficult. The French XV is aware that a match against the All Blacks cannot be prepared lightly. We have the opportunity to win but also to take fifty. I experienced it and, in this case, you see everything in black, not just their jerseys… This opposition must allow us to transcend ourselves. It's been a long time since the All Blacks have performed this well. They have explosive players, with enormous individual qualities.
Will there be a response to the New Zealand haka on Saturday night?
Don't expect anything special. The most beautiful response is to respect a nation. That's what we'll do Saturday night. We have a lot of respect for this team, its jersey, its traditions. But we have a form of pride. We will play with maximum commitment.
Romain Buros is one of the great players. He will rise to the level of the meeting. I trust him.
William Saves
What did you think of the first selection of Bayonne pillar Tevita Tatafu against Japan?
He gave a very good performance. It's never easy to start in the national team and Tevita responded. Like Manny Meafou, Tevita chose to represent France rather than another country and I have a lot of admiration for that. Everything is not yet perfect at Tevita but he will increase his commitment, his scrum… This boy has the will, I remind you that he has lost more than 20 kilos since June to be able to apply with us. His profile is promising for the future and the upcoming match. He is not the only one: George-Henri Colombe shows up, Régis Montagne too. Owning such a tank is a real blessing. This was not always the case.
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Is it a risky bet to offer his first selection against them to the back of UBB, Romain Buros?
He has been with us for many years. It wasn't always easy for him. He toured (in Japan, Editor’s note) without being capped. The boy has character and is capable of taking on great challenges. Clearly, we count on him a lot.
But it's no small thing to start an international career against the All Blacks…
It's not neutral but what could be better than celebrating a first selection against the biggest? Great players, great matches, and I think that Romain Buros is one of those people. He will rise to the level of the meeting. I trust him.
When we represent the French team, we have rights but above all duties.
William Saves
Has the new charter on the living environment of the XV of France changed your daily life?
It made a lot of noise but it didn't change anything in our way of life. Our players are not alcoholics and do not drink in secret. Simply, when we represent the French team, we have rights but above all duties. We are all aware of this.
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How did you welcome non-alcoholic beer in the locker room after the match?
I didn't drink any. Alcohol-free beer would be a form of palliative for alcoholics and I am lucky not to be one (laughter)…
Comments collected at a press conference
