Europe 1 with AFP 9:48 p.m., March 07, 2023

The XV of France travels to Twickenham to challenge England this Saturday, on the occasion of the fourth day of the Six Nations Tournament.

A few days before this decisive match for the rest of the Tournament, Paul Willemse recalled the importance of a victory at a press conference.

"If we lose, it's over", assured this Tuesday the second line of the XV of France Paul Willemse, a few days before the clash against England at Twickenham in the 2023 VI Nations Tournament. The Crunch is "always a special match", he continued as the Blues have been waiting for 18 years for a victory on English soil in the tournament.

The Blues remain on a positive note after the victory against Scotland on the third day of the Tournament.

The Blues have not won in England since 2007 and a 21-15 Test match success.

We even have to go back to February 13, 2005 to see a French success at Twickenham in the Tournament (18-17), thanks to six penalties from Dimitri Yachvili.

"I can't tell you about 2007. We never won there (under the Galthié era), it will be a big challenge: if we lose, it's over so we'll prepare for it like a final. This is the most important match … for now,” added the Montpellier player (30 years old, 27 caps).

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"Everything is possible"

"England likes to play in front of their home crowd. It's important for them. It's always a special match for the history between the two countries, for the history of the Crunch", he recalled in conference of press.

"Anything is possible. We know it's a big team, that it's always complicated to win there," added his partner Gaël Fickou.

"The proof, it's been eighteen years. It's not going to be easy. We're trying to win all the matches, to perform well and that involves great performances at Twickenham, in a crazy atmosphere. We're preparing for that ".

"We have more experience now, we've spent more time together. We know each other better and better but it's still a formidable team, difficult to handle, especially at home, where they are transcended. It's going to be a very hard", also estimated the center of Racing 92 (28 years old, 77 caps).

Since 2020 and the arrival of Fabien Galthié at the head of the XV of France, the Blues have beaten the XV of the Rose at the opening of the Tournament (24-17), at the Stade de France, then in 2022 (25-13).

But they remain on two losses in England (22-19 in December 2020 then 23-20 in March 2021).