Gregory Alldrete (French Team): “I read what was being said in the New Zealand press…”
“What are the bets on this match against New Zealand on Friday?
It is above all an opening match with a stadium expected to be boiling, and a big pre-match party promises to be exceptional with the Patroi de France already announced. We’ve been working for four years to experience this evening, so we can’t wait to be there. This is the first match in what I hope will be a long run in the competition. We want to play to win and we will do our best to do that on Friday night.
When we say all black, we say Hakka…
France-New Zealand is always a big match. Unfortunately, France often loses it. He remains a legendary opponent, and the haka contributes that legendary touch to the match. It adds something extra to this opening night but for us it shouldn’t change anything.
“We will have a heated stadium and our family and friends in the stands. We will take this positively to use it on the ground.”
You are one of the leaders of this group. Do you already know what you’re going to focus on this week?
(smiling) It does not know us well enough to think that we have prepared speeches (Charles Ollivon, seated on the right, laughs.) We are both quite spontaneous people. We know that the enthusiasm is huge around us, we have been feeding on it for two months, taking and trying to present it to the public, on open training sessions in particular or in the camp in Seignosse. We didn’t wait until this week to fulfill the forecast, which is positive for us. We lived the World Cup in Japan four years ago, and it was very special, and we have never felt this enthusiasm in a country so big that does not have such a rugby culture. There we will have a stadium boiling, with our family and friends in the stands. We will take this as a positive for its use in this field.
You are based in Rueil-Malmaison and not in Marcoussy, what has changed about that?
The staff left nothing to chance and we really knew this hotel, especially on match days and eve. We celebrated the Grand Slam there (in 2022) So we have very good memories there. We are lucky to have been welcomed to Rueil-Malmaison with truly fantastic facilities. We are too good and spoiled for being well prepared.
“We had some less good moments in the preparatory matches, and small dips that we were able to correct in the last match (against Australia).”
What are the keys to this match against New Zealand?
In terms of defence, we see that all teams are making more attempts also because the refereeing is more attack-friendly, so we have to adapt to that. We have similarities in the game with the New Zealanders, and I think the team that is more consistent over the 80 minutes will win. We had some less good moments in the preparatory matches, and small dips that we were able to correct in the last match (vs. Australia on August 27, 41-17). Physically, we are in very good condition so we will have to stay there for 80 minutes to meet the challenge.
How can the pressure of the opening match of the World Cup be alleviated with the precedent of 2007 and the defeat of the Blues at home to Argentina?
We’ve already talked about that without lying. It takes pressure to play a rugby match. You have to know how to take it, and anticipate things as much as possible. For example, we are aware of the opening show before the match, we have worked on warm-ups that will be shortened in real conditions before Australia, and we have also taken the visiting dressing room to prepare for what will happen on Friday. Here we are, trying to quickly get rid of as many details as possible to keep our minds focused solely on the rugby.
“I imagine the game they want to play on Friday night. We have been warned.”
What inspired you after New Zealand’s heavy defeat to South Africa (35-7) a week ago?
This doesn’t say much. We can’t sum up the Lions’ offensive line in this game, anyone could have beaten it. I read a little of what was said in the New Zealand press and imagine myself in their place. I imagine the game they want to play on Friday night. We have been warned not to participate in this match.
A quick word about Anthony Jeloncic’s return after suffering a cruciate ligament tear at the end of last February. Were you surprised by his quick return?
In the end, he was no good because of Kolisi (The South African captain suffered the same injury) He has already played two matches (He laughs). No, it’s a pleasure to see him again. He’s my roommate, always brings a sense of humor and lots of smiles. He’s been in the group for four years so it’s a boost to the whole group. »
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