INTERVIEW. France – New Zealand: “It was very tough…” Thibaud Flament recounts the enormous intensity of the French XV match against the All Blacks

Thibaud Flament, what does this victory against the Blacks inspire in you?

We were keen to really get the French team back on track on this tour and it's a step in that direction with these two victories. It's very good for the group and we have to continue on this.

Defensively, how did you experience the game?

It was very rough. They showed a lot of intensity, speed, they were also rough on contact so we had to respond. I think we didn't give up, we didn't cheat and it paid off.

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You also managed to resolve your problems by winning from one half to the next…

Yes. They disrupted us quite a bit in the first half so at halftime, we tried to think a little about how we could readjust the shot and that's what we managed to do. We managed to recover our balls and it’s true that it allowed us to be on the offensive.

What was said in the locker room during the break?

There was a bit of this tactical refocusing, particularly in conquest since we were being disrupted a bit there. And then, we said to ourselves that we had to believe in it, that they were going to blow up, that we had confidence in the resources we have to get back into the match. We prepared it like that too. We knew that if they took the lead, we had the resources to come back into the match and win in the end. This was the case for the opening match of the World Cup so we had prepared for it well and we put it in place.

There is also this defensive sequence before the break where you don’t take points…

We know that against the Blacks, each sequence is of a very high level and can turn the match around. It really comes down to detail. It's true that this sequence where we don't take points before half-time does us good. It allows us to really keep one foot in the match and not let them get away. And as a result, it also allowed us to concentrate a little, to continue to believe in it and to restart the second half well to regain the advantage.

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How do you experience these moments with Emmanuel Meafou, with whom you also form the team at Stade Toulousain?

We are very happy to play together, this is also the case in Toulouse. We have a lot of fun so it’s cool to be able to experience it here too. And on the pitch, we also have fun. He is a player who is enormous, physically but also because of what he does on the pitch. It is ultra-precious. I have footage of him on tackles where he really turns the tide. Ball in hand too, where he manages to advance and bring the ball to life in the confrontation zone so it's extremely valuable for us. But I think he still has room to be better because he's only played a few games with France.

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Personally, you remained uncertain for a long time. How was your week?

There was a lot of care (laughs). I spent an hour and a half, two hours every day doing treatment on the coast, cryotherapy every day. It was a bit of a race against time because we had to go as quickly as possible. I had to be able to train on Wednesday if I wanted to hope to play this match. We succeeded. I thank once again all the physiotherapists with whom I was able to work who allowed me to play this match, I owe this match to them tonight.

How do we now switch to Argentina, in just six days, after the summit of your tour?

We haven't changed yet (laughs)! There, we still enjoy it a little. But yes, it will go very quickly. I think it's a match that will also be very involved, we know the character of the Argentines especially since they came very close to winning yesterday (Friday in Ireland, Editor's note). I think they will have the heart to finish their tour well. We are expecting a very tough match and yes, we will have to prepare very quickly. But I think we have what it takes to have a good match next week.

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Seen from the field, how was Louis Bielle-Biarrey's sprint on his attempt?

It goes quickly. It goes very quickly (laughs)! There too, it’s very valuable to have players like that. We feel that they feed on crumbs of the ball, with a small opportunity they manage to really put the team in progress or the others in danger. It’s super precious, it’s very good.