Naraha (Japan) (AFP)

For Nicolas Sanchez, best director of the World Cup-2015, the first match of the World Cup will have a special taste: Saturday in Tokyo, he will face France, the country where he spent a good part of his career.

Bordeaux-Bègles (from 2011 to 2014), then Toulon (2014-2015), before landing at the French Stadium in late 2018, after a hook with the Jaguares in the country ... Nicolas Sanchez visited France rugby for 8 years .

"My experience last season (at the Stade Français) was useful, because it allowed me to know the players of the French team, I know their qualities and I imagine pretty much what will be the match" he lets go.

"For my part, I am very enthusiastic, as in every game, 100% focused on what we have to do," he told AFP, at Village J, the Pumas base camp in Naraha, no away from Fukushima.

Like the Blues, the Pumas ticked the appointment of Saturday since the draw held long ago, in May 2017.

"For us, this match against France is very important," he says, "we are 100% focused on this match, but we know that after that we will have another very high level match (against England). October 5), where we will also have to be 100%. "

-In competition with Urdapilleta-

In passing, he suggests some tracks that should be favored by the Pumas: "We will have to put them under pressure, I also think that aerial play will play an essential role, many will pass by."

The Argentineans had used the same approach in the two previous World Cup duels; in opening then during the match for the third place of the World-2007. For two successes (17-12 and 34-10) ...

The World Cups seem to galvanize the Pumas, who dream to finally cross the semifinals, on which they stumbled in 2007 and 2015.

Four years ago, in England, the course of the Pumas, carried by an alert game, had allowed Nicolas Sanchez to finish best director of the World Cup with 97 points, in front of some references, like the South African Handré Pollard, the Australian Bernard Foley or the all-black legend, Dan Carter.

This honorary title does not put Nicolas Sanchez (30 years, 77 selections) in a privileged situation. Since the Rugby Championship, this summer, it is subject to competition from Benjamin Urdapilleta, recalled in the group after six years of absence and who also evolves in Top 14 in Castres.

Coach Mario Ledesma also cast doubt on the identity of the opener Pumas Saturday, although Sanchez began the three matches of the Rugby Championship.

"It is very good that there is this competition, I am very happy to share this World Cup with him, he has demonstrated the level at which he can evolve, for the Pumas, it is good to have it, and for Me too.This creates a good emulation, "says Sanchez.

Obviously, the competition does not scare him. Like the XV of France, whom he knows perfectly.

© 2019 AFP