Dusautoir: Defeat non-negotiable
France captain Thierry Dusautoir has demanded his team must do whatever it takes to beat Ireland in their Six Nations clash in Dublin on Saturday.
A win for Les Bleus will ease the pressure on them landing their first wooden spoon since 1999.
The French have made their worst start to a Five/Six Nations championship since 1982 in losing their first three matches, and are the only side still to record a point.
But they travel to Dublin at least in the knowledge they have lost only once to their opponents in their last 13 Tests (in 2009 when Ireland won the Grand Slam).
Dusautoir, though, said he couldn't countenance the thought of defeat.
"I prefer not to even think about it, even if it is always a possible outcome in sport," said the 31-year-old Toulouse flanker.
"It is something that one doesn't want to envisage and we are going to do everything in our power to make sure it doesn't happen.
"There is the fierce pride to show that we are a team of good rugby players.
"At the end of the day it is imperative we win. The French team was often criticised because it won ugly, but at the same time it won.
"We are painfully aware that the victory, whatever the manner of it, is really important. Today we are really hungry to win, whatever it costs."
The Ivory Coast-born France skipper, son of a French father and an Ivorian mother, said that the present squad was not lacking in guts and determination, contrary to what many of their critics and former players have said.
"I think this squad has character and is going to show it," said Dusautoir, who has earned the sobriquet the 'Dark Destroyer' for his fierce tackling.
"In our first match, without taking away from the Italian performance (a 23-18 defeat), we let the match drift past us, the second (a 16-6 home loss to Wales) was a real hard-fought tussle until we lost in the 72nd minute (conceding the only try of the match) and the third (a 23-13 defeat against England), we lost our way in the second-half.
"For each match there is an explanation as to why we lost. It is vital we start putting together all the good factors and produce a perfect match because that is what is asked of you to win at the highest level."
Dusautoir was not the original choice as skipper for the Six Nations as Philippe Saint-André opted to give him more time to recover his playing form and chose Pascal Papé instead, before the lock suffered a tournament-ending injury against Italy.
And he said that for the young squad the poor run was a new experience after the high of winning their three November tests.
"This squad is different to the one that played in the last World Cup," said Dusautoir, who skippered the French to their 8-7 defeat at the hands of the All Blacks in the 2011 World Cup final.
"It is in the middle of experiencing its first tough patch, it is something new for them.
"This squad is at the moment trying to go into hiding at difficult moments.
"It is crucial that the players show they have the resources to react to such crises. There are lots of young players who have only known the good side of international rugby. With victories and the ensuing eulogies, life is a lot simpler.
"Today the opposite is the case. These are the two extremes that one gets acquainted with at this level. To know what both of them are like is not too serious.
"The important thing is to know how to get back up off the canvas. They're currently in the process of building up experience and character."
Comments
ArmchairGeneral says...
PR why do you persist with this: "The Ivory Coast-born France skipper, son of a French father and an Ivorian mother". So many posters have requested you stop it. It just fuels the nationalistic trolls. I enjoyed Jonothan Davies comment when the 2nd half commentator came on as a replacement for the last Wales game, as commentator he went on about the England born Welsh players and JD just said something sarcastic along the lines of "thanks for that its really helped my understanding of the game". Here here!
Posted 22:07 06th March 2013
melkdave says...
I should imagine the pressure on France for a victory is enormous atm,I can see quite a few french players being dropped ,if they dont win,and even more pressureon PSA ,who could also go given the current climate in France atm.
Posted 18:07 06th March 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
Bit like Munster you mean Froggy?
Pre-match Munster talk: "We didn't like the way they behaved, We were hard done by last year, so we will want revenge."
Result: Loss.
Pre-match Munster talk: "We didn't like the way they behaved, We were hard done by last year, so we will want revenge."
Result: Loss.
Pre-match Munster talk: "We didn't like the way they behaved, We were hard done by last year, so we will want revenge."
Result: Win.
Munster post match talk, "Told you we're going to get our revenge!"
Posted 15:34 06th March 2013
froggy73 says...
"Victory imperative"... yeah yeah, I heard this already, before the game vs Italy, before the game vs Wales, before the game vs England. I guess I will also hear next week against Scotland that the victory will be imperative (to avoid the wooden spoon).
Posted 12:06 06th March 2013
pierredelot1 says...
If they stick to the starting team that opened against England they have a chance. But fooling around replacing in form players on the pitch for no apparent reason with players who are painfully not in the same class is a crime. The French backrow actually outperformed the English backrow in the first half. No suprise as they have a true blend of bulk,(Picamoles) speed (Nyanga) and all round skill (TD). Their front row should really demolish the Irish three which means that Ireland should be on the back foot from the off. If they keep Fofana and Bastearaud in the middle thats enough to keep any opposition on their toes. Trouble is you just don't know where their heads are now after that last defeat. Because for sure at halftime against England Les Bleus must have thought they were really in with a great chance, only to see it all go down the pan with a bench that just couldn't perform and substitutions that didn't need to be made. I'm beginning to wonder of the French Team is run by central administration as so many decisions just don't make sense unless of course dealing with unemployment (The bench) has become a national issue.
Posted 09:49 06th March 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
Gonna be tough.... Game of the weekend I reckon.
Posted 09:49 06th March 2013