“It was pure happiness, real joy”

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Sunday evening, Mickaël Guillard had already returned to Lyon. Ready to resume with the LOU. “At the moment, the club is not very good. I am available to help him. If the staff needs me, I will be there,” the 2nd told us.^e international line (5 selections). Mickaël Guillard above all agreed to confide inAt the time of Rugby on the autumn tour that he experienced, having played the 3 matches of the XV of France and beating the All Blacks. He discusses his performances, the confidence gained by the Blues, or the state of the group after the summer tour…

Actu : After participating in the summer tour where the premium players were absent, you had 3 match sheets this fall. Do you have the feeling of starting to settle into this French XV?

Mickaël Guillard: I don't know if you can say that. But to have played these 3 matches this fall, it was a real honor for me.

His performances this fall

Do you still realize, at 23, the size you have taken on in just a few months?

M.G : It sure is crazy! If someone had told me last year that in 2024, I would end the year with 5 selections, I would not have believed it. Everything went well, everything came together well for me, and it's true that suddenly, I had the chance to wear this tricolor jersey 5 times. It's really not nothing.

What does it mean to you to have been able to wear this tricolor jersey in front of the French public?

M.G : The emotions were pure happiness, real joy. To be in front of the public of your country, and the fervor that emanates at the Stade de France, I experienced it as an honor. For me, wearing this jersey and representing France at this level is above all an honor. These 3 matches in November were pretty incredible.

You accumulated 100 minutes of playing time in these 3 matches in November: how would you personally describe your tour?

M.G : Having participated in all 3 matches, I will use the word “successful”. Afterwards, I have things to erase. For example, on my impact when I came into play: things were good, but everything was not perfect. I still have a lot to learn. At the international level, I am just beginning to understand the requirements. Small mistakes made in the club are impossible at this level. I still have work to be better and ready for this level.

You say you discover the requirements of the very, very high level. What do you think is the main difference you have seen between the Top 14 and the international scene?

M.G : The impacts and speed of play. Everything goes faster, and therefore it hits harder. I had never experienced such matches. Against Japan (he came on at half-time, Editor's note), the effective playing time was 43 minutes. In the Top 14, the average is around 34. Everything was back on track, the pace was sustained. Against the All Blacks, there were more tactics. It was less in all directions, but it hit much harder. Argentina, given that there was a gap in the score, was also running a lot.

How are you physically coming out of this fall tour?

M.G : I think I came out well. The preparation was tough, I admit, but it allowed us to be strong in all three matches. I put in a lot of effort, but in the end my playing time is “only” 100 minutes. I haven't played 3 matches in full, so I'm fresher than some of the guys who have been with me on this tour.

The results of the XV of France

Mickaël, one of the highlights of the tour was the victory against New Zealand. What does it feel like to beat the All Blacks?

M.G : Sincerely ? It’s an immense joy. We say to ourselves that we are perhaps beating the best nation in the world, the most legendary, the one that makes everyone dream. Already, facing the All Blacks with the Haka at the start of the match is something. Victory on top of that is pure happiness.

After the match against Argentina, what was the watchword: were you savoring the moment when the talk was already focused on the 2025 6 Nations Tournament?

M.G : We enjoyed it, because we had just spent a big month together and we had scored 3 victories. And then, we kind of wanted to stay together before each returning to our clubs. The next gathering will be in January, the Tournament will be another subject entirely. We just wanted to live and enjoy the present moment.

In terms of results, this tour is perfect. But in the game, in which sectors does this French XV need to improve according to you?

M.G : In several aspects I will say. Our conquest is rather good, but we were sometimes heckled, which prevented us from having all our balls clean. There was a scrum, but also a few balls lost in touch against the All Blacks. We were able to rectify the situation during the meetings. Not everything was perfect, of course, but it worked out well for us.

Confidence-wise, you’ve garnered quite a bit for 2025, right?

M.G : Yes of course. The French XV came out of a complicated World Cup and a 6 Nations Tournament which was not easy but punctuated in second place. Everything was put aside, we started a new season and I think we're off to a good start. These 3 victories, I sincerely think they gave confidence to everyone.

Fabien Galthié's key word during this tour was “emulation”. How did you perceive it, you who are a young element of this XV of France?

M.G : Alright. For me, this emulation highlights executives who pull the other members of the group up and us, the latest arrivals, to give our all to pull them up. This only does everyone good. Executives don't necessarily want to see young people take their place, and we young people really want to steal their place. There is therefore a real quality during training, and for me this is not unrelated to the results we had this fall.

On an autumn tour, the French XV had never attracted so many people overall in the stadiums or on television. Further proof that these Blues are anchoring themselves even more in the hearts of their supporters…

M.G : The XV of France already had its audience. Afterwards, I think we must give pride of place to the Paris 2024 Olympics and the result of France 7. France has always been a country of sport, and with the latest events that have taken place in the country, the people want to see something else and head towards sport. They are happy to go see it. And then, Antoine Dupont, he attracts: he is a world star, an ambassador in France, he is appreciated. This generates enthusiasm. And for us, to know that we are followed so much, it only creates happiness.

The state of the group after the events in Argentina

Mickaël, you were part of the group present in Argentina. When you found the Blues at the end of October, the group still seemed traumatized by the events, or had they turned the page?

M.G : He quickly turned the page. And then, there weren't very many of us present in Argentina participating in this fall tour. We haven't necessarily talked about it too much. A framework has also been defined. And then we quickly moved on to preparing for matches.

How did you perceive this new framework: a good thing or a constraint?

M.G : Like a good thing! It's completely logical that it was introduced, we all welcomed it very well. There was no problem with that.

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