And suddenly, the rain stopped to make way for the artists. The XV of France carried out this Friday the traditional training of the captain at the Stade de France, on the eve of the match against Australia (Saturday 9 p.m.), just after a beautiful downpour fell on Saint-Denis. After this final trial run, the captain of the Blues spoke at a press conference.
How does it feel to find the Stade de France, after the Grand Slam won here in March against England?
ANTONY DUPONT. It’s always important to come back here. It’s been seven months now, we’ve had incredible memories. We always have so much joy, but also concentration when we come back to this place.
Do you still have an appetite after this winning streak?
Yes of course. Winning gives confidence, and it makes you want to win even more. Now you have to add the ingredients. Getting to the top is good, but the hardest thing is to stay there, we will be more expected too. But the desire, the enthusiasm and the niaque in the whole group are there, it has even perhaps increased compared to the Tournament. It has to translate to the field.
You have never played Australia. What did you think of their victory in Scotland last week?
This team has been playing together for several months. They have a lot of automatisms, they won in Edinburgh, we know how hard it is to do it there. As usual, they were dominated, but they didn’t give up and ended up winning this match. It’s a hell of a victory. You will have to beware of it.
“Captain, this is not an additional charge”
You were confirmed as captain after Charles Ollivon’s return. How do you live it?
Normally pretty good. I am not alone in this group. Now that Charles has returned, he remains a leader in his own right, as Greg can be. (Shit)Gael (fucking) or Julian (Marchand). My role in the field already leads me to be a game leader. Captain, this is not an additional charge. I’m not the one talking all week, and luckily I’m well supported for that.
There have been several injuries at the start of the season, some have returned (Ntamack, Baille), others are absent (Willemse, Villière, Jaminet). How is the band doing physically?
You always have to deal with injuries, hazards, that’s part of the game. Our strength is that others have always been there, they know the group and are already training with us. We are still at the start of the season, there is still physical freshness. We should be fine tomorrow.
We are less than a year away from the World Cup here in France. It’s a special year, are you going to change things?
Not especially. We have to continue what we have been doing since the beginning of Fabien’s era (Galthie) and its staff. We must continue to operate as we do, not revolutionize everything. There is a lot of expectation, including on our part, in relation to this event. But we have to be patient, we have to continue to evolve, to grow together.