XV of France: “A great team is also built through pain”, says Patrick Arlettaz

On the occasion of the announcement of the composition of the French XV to face Wales on Sunday (4 p.m.), Patrick Arlettaz, the new coach of the French attack, looked back on the team’s more than sluggish beginnings of France in this 2024 Six Nations Tournament. “It’s suffering when we don’t have what we want in terms of content and results. But our profession wants that. We must provide solutions to the players so that there is progress. And we know very well, because we have been coaching for a long time, that a great team is also built through pain,” he explained.

And added: “The French team remains a great team even if its results do not yet live up to our ambitions. I remain convinced that if we negotiate difficult times well – and that is our job – we will be even stronger tomorrow.”

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The former Perpignan coach also justified the tenure of Nolann Le Garrec at the scrum, in place of the disappointing Maxime Lucu. “Max Lucu suffered much more from the collective performance (of the team). But we can’t take away the fact that Nolann made three convincing entries.”