Absent from the blue since the 2018 summer tour in New Zealand, third row Judicaël Cancoriet is one of the 42 players selected by France XV coach Fabien Galthié. He is enjoying…
What was your feeling at the moment to be summoned, six years later, with the XV of France for this tour in Argentina?
It’s really nice to come back, to find the French team, its staff that I didn’t know. There have been a lot of changes, a lot of new faces. The way it works has also really evolved. I have the feeling that the XV of France has a different status compared to the one I knew in the past.
Do you remember your last selection for the French team?
It was at Eden-Park against New Zealand during the 2018 summer tour. We took a big beating, really a big loss (52-11, June 9, 2018). This is the last memory I have of my time in blue.
How did you experience these six years away from the France team?
I did like everyone else, I watched him evolve, perform, thrill all the rugby fans. And deep down, I hoped I could come back to this group one day. It went through a lot of personal effort.
Did your arrival in La Rochelle completely relaunch your career?
The season went rather well with La Rochelle. It wasn’t always easy, but we knew how to raise our heads to try to go as far as possible. Afterwards, unfortunately, it ended in the semi-final. But I confirm that my arrival in La Rochelle did me good.
Is it difficult to immerse yourself in a new project after this defeat in the semi-final?
Yes and no. The disappointment linked to the defeat is strong, but we were very well received by the staff of the France team. They did everything to ensure that we quickly picked up our heads and quickly focused on the next deadlines. Now, physically, it’s not simple. During training, Fabien (Galthié) saw that I was a little rough at one point. He told me (Editor’s note: he’s laughing). But it’s good to see all the young people in this group who are pulling us up. But I remember that no one gave up on this physical exercise.
You played a lot this season. What physical state are you in?
I am one of those who try to pay attention to their body, to watch for little alerts. And then I hang on. Today, I try not to listen to my body too much to give my best for the team.
Do you feel like you have a card to play on this tour?
I try not to ask myself ten thousand questions. I’m joining a team, a new group. I’m trying to find my feet and live the human experience to the fullest. The goal is to quickly integrate the game plan and perform collectively.
