For your first World Cup match, you score two tries…Jonathan Danty: That’s cool. I’m pretty happy, I’m not going to lie to you. But the most important thing is collective work. Despite the players scoring, what must stand out is that we were consistent for 80 minutes. What’s good is that we kept the same level of intensity for 80 minutes, we didn’t drop off after half-time. And Namibia remained fanny. It was unfortunately difficult for the Namibians. But we needed to get our game back together, to review what we couldn’t do against Uruguay. We were able to release all the frustration from the previous match. There are a lot of positives. We will be able to work on this basis to prepare Italy. We need to raise the level…
Personally, were you not apprehensive about your return from injury? No. At halftime, the medical staff asked me if everything was okay and it was OK. Afterwards, I admit, the match was a little long. When you score attempts of 80 meters, it’s harder for me who weighs 108 kg than for the guys who do 80 (laughs)… I tried to follow them. I haven’t seen my GPS stats yet but I think I must have broken a few records. I am really happy.
During the match, did you realize that you were breaking the record for the biggest victory in the history of the French XV? We don’t think about it, no. After each test, we just told ourselves to keep the same intensity, the same application. Laurent Labit (the attack coach, Editor’s note) gave us the message by taking the example of Ireland. Great teams, no matter who they face, they keep the same structure, the same game, and the score comes naturally. We want to be among the best, so we have to play like the best.
Is this record anecdotal? I would have preferred the record of a hat-trick for a first World Cup match (laughs). Seriously, in the end, it won’t matter. What will count is winning the final, lifting the trophy. It is the most important.
Does Antoine Dupont’s injury tarnish the victory? Yes and no. It’s certain that we’re mixed. We are waiting. In the past, things have been said too quickly and it was not reality. Let’s wait to be fixed by the medical. We remain optimistic that it will not be too serious, we keep our fingers crossed for him. We may need Antoine again (smile).
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