On the eve of facing New Zealand, Blues captain Antoine Dupont expressed his feelings about the upcoming meeting, recalling in passing that the success acquired in 2021 on this pitch at the Stade de France had already been a founding act of the first mandate of coach Fabien Galthié.
You were absent from training at the start of the week, how are you feeling?
Okay, I just got a little sick, but nothing too bad. I returned to training on Wednesday to prepare for this match as best as possible. And I feel very good.
Is this match against New Zealand crucial for the French XV in the run-up to the 2027 World Cup?
We can see it this way. A match against the Blacks is always an important meeting. That of 2021, here at the Stade de France, was foundational for the rest of our history. It was a different context, the team was younger, less experienced. But also in another dynamic. Today is another match, but it's still an opportunity to confront the best in international rugby.
You will face this All Blacks team for only the fourth time. What does this inspire you?
These are rare moments, often big matches. It's a legendary team that has made several generations of players dream. A team made up of fantastic and inspiring players and with a game that is a little closer to everything we love in France. A game of movement, initiative, technicality. A game that we enjoy. And when we see the game displayed on their latest releases, it will be a very nice poster.
What do you know about this New Zealand team?
We have learned in recent years the effort necessary to beat this team. This is perhaps even more true today. The Blacks have regained their rugby and their best level. Winning in England and Ireland in quick succession is not neutral. They will come to us on Saturday with full confidence, with players in full possession of their means. It will definitely be interesting for us.
The All Blacks talked a lot about you during the week. Do you think you will be particularly expected on Saturday evening?
I think it was more the journalists who talked to them about me than the opposite (laughs). Of course, the purpose remains the same. But, I don't bother. I know that hinge players are often scrutinized in gaming systems and subject to pressure. Above all, they also know that we have a lot of talented players and threats in all areas of the pitch. Now, if they focus on me, it will open doors for others. I will concentrate on my game, do my job well to make my team play well and try as much as possible to use speed and intensity to implement our strategy.
The French team remains on two successes against the Blacks. Does this allow this meeting to be desacralized?
In 2021, our generation of players didn't know where they were going. Few had ever faced them. Today, we are therefore in another context with rotations within our team. And at the risk of repeating myself, New Zealand seems to be in a different dynamic today compared to 2021. It's up to us to respond to win the match and gain confidence for the future.
How do you view Roigard, your counterpart in the fray?
He is a good player who had a good performance in Ireland. He has a scrum-half profile that speaks to me because he carries the ball a lot. With Ratima, he is the future of the Blacks in this position. It's nice to see new players emerging and to be able to meet them.
The possibility of seeing you evolve at the opening during a match exists. What does this change for you?
Other than a few different placements, it doesn't change much. I have already had the chance to play there with Stade Toulouse, sometimes even important matches. And even if I haven't yet experienced it at international level, I know that I will have players next to me to offer me options and solutions. We worked on these adjustments this week.
Fabien Galthié insisted on the “kicking game”. To what extent did you fear the Blacks' kicking game?
We have a well-defined strategy that we used against Japan. We saw that the Blacks put the Irish and the English under pressure with the game in the air. It was already a big gaming area, it is now even more so due to the ban on escorts. You will really have to make an effort to be present in all phases of aerial battles, but also when the ball drops because it is difficult to have clear receptions each time. It's up to us to also know how to put them under pressure to have maximum possessions by following.
To what extent did the World Cup quarter-final lost against South Africa allow you to work on this sector of the game?
This is a sector that we were already working on. Afterwards, there are facts of play which cause the ball to go to one side more than another. We also know that we cannot afford to be complacent or nonchalant when the ball is in the air. It's these small details that allow you to have a positive result. In the past, we may have been a little careless, which we cannot afford at international level.
For the record, how did you find the pitch at the Stade de France when a football match took place on Thursday evening?
I think the footballers damage it less than when they pass after us. So we're not going to complain. And I trust the gardener that the lawn will be good on Saturday evening.
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