Saint-Denis (AFP)

Fabien Galthié began his reign as coach of the France team with "a very big victory" against England (24-17), Sunday, in the Six Nations Tournament, the fruit of "a great investment".

Q: Last year France led 16-0 at break against Wales but ended up losing. What changed?

A: "What made the team successful, with a difference of seven points, is surely first of all the players' investment, their solidarity, especially in the second half, when England came back to the score . As well as the work done over the past two weeks, by the players, by the staff but also by the clubs and the Federation. These are small details which, at the end, made a great victory and a great satisfaction. "

Q: Is it the defense that makes you win?

A: "Indeed, the players showed a lot of solidarity, especially on the English possessions. On the highlights, the team was well in place, it managed to hold the standoff. And on many occasions, She managed to overthrow this showdown and recover the balloons. We scored three tries against the English in the rain. We showed real offensive skills. Especially with a team in front very solid, very good organized. "

Q: Can you tell us how you really felt before the meeting?

A: "We tried to share with the team and the staff, not to leave much to chance. We did not do the best but we did our best, according to our convictions. It was a big investment and it is the reward of a commitment for two months of all the staff and people who joined us. It is the sum of details, of a whole ... We were not afraid of to deceive us, to make mistakes. We were convinced, so were the players. Remember that this team is very young in age and experience. So this victory is the reward for everyone's investment. "

Q: A word about Anthony Bouthier, for his first selection.

A: Before the match, no one is sure of a perfect match. Even if we have 60 selections, especially against the second world nation, which has statistics which show that we were facing an immense challenge. Even if you are a confirmed player, you are not sure that you will perform as expected. Anthony was solid while exposed, often mistreated. But he gave what we have seen from him since the start of the season and what Xavier Garbajosa (his trainer in Montpellier, Editor's note) told us. There were other questions about other players too ... First of all, it was a collective performance. The players held hands and managed to get the game they needed to win. What we wanted was to win. Even at 24-0, we had a lot of ambition and, as we said before the match, we wanted to win. We had the right to be ambitious. "

Comments gathered at a press conference

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