Paris (AFP)

"I will stay myself", assures the third line of Toulon Charles Ollivon, named Wednesday captain of the XV of France for the Tournament of the six nations for which his objective will be first "the requirement", explains- he in an interview with AFP.

The 92nd captain of the Blues (26 years, 11 sel.), Who survived three fractures of the scapula in 2017 and 2018 to become a surprise holder in selection at the last World Cup, intends to keep the "pleasure" as "guideline".

Q: How did you find out about your appointment?

A: "Fabien (Galthié) announced it to me at the end of last week. I already had a little time to digest it. At the time, there was a lot of pride and behind, I tried to take a step back. In the end, it's a lot of happiness. "

Q: You had already discussed this ...

A: "At the end of 2019, Fabien called me to discuss the French team, the project, the game, the group with the leaders, everything they wanted to set up. This is where he m announced that I was a member and he asked me a question, a simple question, about the captaincy. And then last week, he called me back to tell me that I was going to be a captain. had discussions on quite a few subjects. He explained to me the reasons for his choice. "

Q: Do you feel ready?

A: "Honestly, I'm not asking myself that much. Since I was offered it ... my answer was natural, it was quickly a big yes. There will be a lot of work, a lot of expectations but I want to see the positive, to be able to enter this role. I look forward to attacking the Six Nations. "

- "Something has changed" -

Q: Lost for rugby in 2018, retained in extremis for the World Cup finally contested as holder ... where are you going to stop?

A: "I felt a little bit, after returning from the World Cup, that something had changed. We will have to manage, but in any case I will stay myself, keep my personality. one of the first things I said to the coach. I want to remain the one who came back from all this. Pleasure, feasting, it will continue to be what I want to do, my guideline . "

Q: Galthié also chose you for this exemplary resilience ...

A: "I don't necessarily want to spoil myself on this. What happened happened, now it's starting to go up a little: 2017, 2018 ... It's part of my story and that Everyone has known galleys, suffered. The main thing is to bring out the positive of all this and to use it again, because we necessarily need it later. I will not overdoing it; I've never done too much, by the way. "

Q: Have you talked to Yves Bellumore, the surgeon who saved your career by operating successfully on you?

A: "Of course, Yves is part of my story, a little, a lot, we became close. I got him on the phone."

- "Building together" -

Q: Galthié has called many neophytes, many elders will not be there. Who are you going to rely on to federate?

A: "It's true, but there are a lot of guys who were at the World Cup or in prep, and in addition a lot of Toulonnais. So there will be a lot of guys I know. build together. "

Q: How do you design your internal communication?

A: "We will inevitably have moments when we meet. It's true that there are a lot of new ones. Forty-two, it's a fairly large group. When the time comes to tighten, we will make sure integrate everyone, make everyone feel comfortable and enjoy training in and out. It's going to be super important. If guys don't feel good, it's going to be very complicated. weekends, when it's hard, you need colleagues you trust. Honestly, I'm not really worried about that, I'm going to find out what we experienced during the World Cup, I think that we're going to surf all this. "

Q: Your predecessors were more experienced. Does that put additional pressure on you?

"It's true, they must be big names. After that, Raphaël Ibanez was younger than me when he was captain. I don't necessarily put myself under pressure for this role."

Q: What is for you the objective of this Tournament?

A: "The first thing is the requirement in what we do everyday, in training. If we are very demanding, we can get the victories. Obviously, winning is essential. is humble but also ambitious. Things will happen naturally: we all want to win and we will give ourselves the means. "

Interview by Pierrick YVON

© 2020 AFP