Marcoussis (France) (AFP)

Anthony Bouthier, revelation of the last Six Nations Tournament, assured him Tuesday: the XV of France "expects everything", Sunday in Vannes, against Fiji, first match for the Blues in the new Fall Cup of nations.

Q: How do you feel when you find Vannes, where you played five seasons?

A: "This is the first time that I'm going to go back there: it makes me happy to find this stadium again, even if it's a pity that there is no one there, that it is behind closed doors. going back to these places will bring back fond memories. I'm still in contact with my former teammates, we talk to each other often. I follow their performances every week. It's pretty incredible this year, by the way (Vannes is leader Pro D2 with eight wins in nine matches, Editor's note). We write to talk, to give each other news ... "

Q: Has that two week break done you any good since the win over Ireland (Oct 31, 35-27)?

A: "It always feels good after two matches in a row. They are international matches so with a lot of volume, a lot of intensity. This rest was important behind, to do us good for the body and the head, d 'as much as we had chained in the league too. It feels good. "

Q: This should be your last game with the Blues for 2020. What is your assessment of your first year with the France team?

R: "Only positive. I arrived in January, I discovered the France team, how it works ... But I immediately felt good, from the Nice internship (at the beginning of 2020, Editor's note). I had the chance to play against England and we won. It's obviously easier to start with a victory. In addition to that, it's a group, an atmosphere ... and that continues today. It's healthy. We are calm during the week to have a big performance on the weekend. Every week, we question ourselves, we know that we have to start again to win every week . In these first matches, for me, there is only positive. "

Q: A word about three-quarters of Fijians?

A: "We know them very well, they play in our league. They are players that we meet every weekend and they have enormous individual qualities. But we are preparing as we prepare for the other matches, with a lot of seriousness to be able to do what we know how to do and that we have been doing since the beginning of the year, with our game systems, our plan to have a big game on Sunday. And win it. "

Q: Are you afraid of them?

A: "Apprehension, yes. We have it every weekend, when we play the Irish, the Welsh ... Individually, the Fijians can make a difference but there are players like that in all the teams. Since last Friday, we have been working to be able to face them and compete in duels. We know how they work, we study them on a daily basis but we will not change the way we do things. Our DNA is to have a strong defense to to be able to play as we know how to do. "

Q: Did you mention the 2018 defeat (21-14 at Stade de France)?

A: "Very few. Already, very few are still there. There, we are working on the current team. We talk about it a little but very lightly. The staff have also changed. There will surely be new things in their attacking game. or defensive. We expect anything. "

Interview at a press conference

© 2020 AFP