The coach of the French forwards discusses the ambitions and projects that await the Blues before launching their Six Nations campaign against Wales.
The ambitions of the Blues
“We are approaching this tournament as a continuation of the November tour, which is quite recent. This is our last competition. All the players have returned to the club. We tried to evolve, to perfect what we could do. So, following what we did in November, we have two objectives: to maintain the achievements that we were able to obtain during this tour and to decide on a few points of progression. It was important for us to reconnect with the players to give them our ideas, the way we were going to want to develop the method and our game. We do all this to win, as we did in November and as we does it at every competition. It would be a failure not to come out better than after the November tour. We have an obsession with progress and an obsession with better mastering what depends on us. We stay focused on ourselves.”
Good French performances in the Champions Cup
“I saw the performances of French clubs in the European Cup, notably Toulouse and Bordeaux. The Castres also had a performance (against Saracens). There are many French clubs which are performing very well in the European Cup. There are French players who are in good shape and we tried to summarize all that through the list of 42. It's true that it's an interesting signal for us. On the other hand, it is another competition with nations which have different preparation cycles. So we don't want to take shortcuts or rush too much. There is no conclusion to draw too much other than that our French clubs are performing well in the European Cup.”
Meafou's physical dimension allows him to do quite extraordinary things
Laurent Sempéré
Baille and Gros, two left pillars returning from injury
“These are players with whom we have had more or less continuity. On the left side of the scrum, in the group of 42, there is Jean-Baptiste Gros, Cyril Baille, but there is also Giorgi Beria and Dany Priso. This is also why we have four left-handers. Because we needed to see the evolution of the players, the state of form of each one. This is what we are doing throughout this week: being able to see the progress and physical availability of the players. Because, mentally, we see that each of them really wants to participate. (On their state of form) It’s very reassuring. They (Baille and Gros) are both good. They are both a continuation of what we saw during their last matches. They manage to cope with the (work) load without problem.”
The return of Ntamack
“Due to his performances, he established himself in the list of 42. Since I coached the France team, I had never had the opportunity to have him in the group. I'm happy with it. It was his performances which led him to be selected and part of this group of 42. Now, his performances in training will naturally make him regain his place or not, it is a group that is alive. Nothing is decided in advance. Due to its strategic position, it has a very important role. But like Thomas Ramos had during the November tour. This trio 9-10-15 (Dupont, Ntamack, Ramos) of the Stade Toulousain, it is still very practical for playing the game. We have a framework. We have many players in this group of 42 who come from Stade Toulousain. It is our largest supplier and, between players from the same club, there are automatisms. But I never think of saying to myself: “He is such a club. Him from this club, he from that other club.” They come to a group that was formed now many years ago. Mathieu (Jalibert) is in the group, he is a full-fledged player on the list of 42. He really makes sure to be able to express himself, to give himself every chance, like each of the players.
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Maefou's injury
“It’s a small sore from last Sunday’s match (against Leicester), which he is gradually resolving. His absence on Wednesday was only to protect him from contact. He will resume with you at the end of the week, there is no other. He is fit. He is sharp, he has done a lot of work on himself since this summer. We started to feel it on the November tour. His physical dimension – especially in his position – allows him to do quite extraordinary things.”
There was a lot of work by Fabien (Galthié) and the Federation on a reflection around the living environment, what we now call the reinforced living environment, which was certainly necessary
Laurent Sempéré
The returns of Jégou and Auradou
“It gives me pleasure to speak sportingly about these two players. When we look at their return to competition, whether for Hugo with Pau or for Oscar a little later with La Rochelle, they were both sportingly there as soon as they started again. We could expect, with the emotional charge of what they experienced, that they would not be able to maintain this level over time. They did it. So, they are very efficient. This is why they are on the list today. There was a lot of work from Fabien (Galthié), from the Federation as a whole, on thinking about the living environment, what we now call the reinforced living environment, which was certainly necessary. There was, for us, a little apprehension at the dawn of the November tour because we introduced new rules, new ways of living. But it went very well during the November tour, both in the sporting results but also in the atmosphere that was had in the group. We will therefore continue with these same rules which are now well understood and which are becoming a habit.
Ramos' place in the group
“Thomas performed very well at number 10, he is also excellent at number 15. And we now see that there is a real substitution between the 10 and the 15 in the forms of play. It was quite natural to putting him in this position (of 10), he did well because he is often used to occupying this position at times in matches. This is an additional asset for us. (…) Thomas is a reassuring player, who is capable of both being offensively dangerous, providing air with his excellent kicking game, and he is a good defender. He had already played in a big tournament last year. Thomas has an important place in the group due to his performances. But also because he brings his slightly calm way to the game, to the decisions. His word carries.”
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The return of Slimani
“Rabat, he is older (35 years old). He had a little more difficult times. He questioned himself by going abroad (to Leinster). He has had good performances with his club, he was excellent in the European Cup. He finds himself today in the 42. What we want is for him to acclimate to our game as quickly as possible.
