Marcoussis (France) (AFP)
Do we need a special plan to stop the Fijian arrows?
The XV of France will especially remain "focused on (its) game" and "in the continuity" of the Tournament before approaching its first match of the Autumn Nations Cup Sunday in Vannes.
The last duel between France and Fiji had turned into disappointment for the Blues, beaten 21 to 14 at the end of the 2018 autumn tour.
This match, "we watched it" and "we talked about it a bit," said Montpellier winger Vincent Rattez during a press briefing on Wednesday.
But it was above all "a booster shot".
Because since, "there has been" a renewal "and" a lot of turnover in the workforce, "insisted Rattez, not summoned at the time.
Two years later, the France team is no longer the same.
In the middle of the desert in 2018, she is now on the ascending path and gained confidence with the second place won in the Six Nations Tournament (4 wins, 1 loss).
"We want to continue our momentum," said Toulon second row Romain Taofifenua.
While remaining "especially focused on our game", added Rattez.
On paper, the XV of France seems better prepared than the Fijians who have not played together since the last World Cup a year ago and have had a preparation disrupted by cases of coronavirus contamination.
The French successes against Wales (38-21), during a test match, then against Ireland (35-27) on the last day of the Tournament, confirmed the beautiful promises seen last winter .
- Cotter's "science" -
But beware of the Fijians, who are, for many (nine currently playing in France, plus Nakarawa, Ratuva, Radradra, Nadolo or Murimurivalu), passed through the Top 14 and therefore know the French well.
"They are magicians," said Rattez, when asked about the individualities of the selection of the Pacific.
Their players "are game accelerators, very strong and who go very quickly", adds Thibault Giroud, performance director of the XV of France.
Among these players capable of making a difference, the name that comes up most often is that of the center Semi Radradra.
With his athletic qualities "dominant in the explosiveness", he is able "to accelerate very hard in the axis" and could "have made an extraordinary career in the NFL", according to Giroud.
The former center of Toulon and Bordeaux-Bègles is today the delight of the English of Bristol with whom he played a bad trick at the RCT in the final of the European Challenge last month.
The Fijian XV, "it is also a front pack which, since the World Cup 2015, marked the spirits", underlines William Servat, coach of the French forwards.
"In the first match, against the English (defeat 35-11, Editor's note), they had dominated them through and through. Even in front of television, we were able to realize their potential," he insists.
We must not forget either that the Fijians are now led by a coach who knows the French game perfectly, the former coach of Clermont and Montpellier, Vern Cotter.
"We know the science of Vern's rugby. It will be beneficial for this team," said Montpellier center Arthur Vincent on Tuesday.
To avoid losing feathers, the French will also have to resolve their discipline problem.
"It's kind of our weak point," Taofifenua admitted.
"We worked on it a lot during the week" but "there is not necessarily an approach left because Fiji", he assured.
© 2020 AFP