After the success against Italy (33-8) on Sunday, February 22 in Lille, during the 3rd round of the Six Nations Tournament, the French coach revealed that he appreciated his team’s ability to play in a different style than in previous games.
“It was the match we were waiting for, with a tough opponent, strong, on a good dynamic. Compared to other matches, the scenario was completely different, more closed, even though we were opportunistic with the few balls we had in the first half. And then, we had to hold the line. For 20 minutes, we had to be strong. The ball in play was lower than before, but there were more aerial and ground confrontations with reshuffles. There was a completely different pace in which we hadn’t played before. It was the first time we were going into this type of rugby and it was good that we won the battle at that moment,” the coach said.
On the 50th selection of Thomas Ramos, who showed some human errors, the coach mentioned that Ramos changed position after a teammate’s absence, and he remained calm even during the last-minute changes that could disrupt their offensive strategy.
Despite their offensive quality, the coach praised their defense for their victory and emphasized the importance of both ball and non-ball play in winning matches. He mentioned that the defense near their try lines was strong, preventing Italy from scoring any tries.
Looking ahead to their next match against Scotland, the coach acknowledged the challenges they will face and the ambition within the team to continue their successful streak. He also commended the performance of Emmanuel Meafou, who played the full 80 minutes.
In conclusion, the coach highlighted the solid debut of Gaël Dréan and thanked his club coach for preparing him for this opportunity. He praised Dréan’s performance and his teammates’ support in his first match.
