SM
Leeds vs. Southampton: 1 hr 43 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Six Nations | Group Stage
Feb 22, 2020 at 4.45pm UK
 
Wales
23-27
France
Lewis (48'), Biggar (75')
FT
Bouthier (7'), Willemse (30'), Ntamack (52')

Shaun Edwards: 'We need to give the French public a good France team'

:Headline: Shaun Edwards: 'We need to give the French public a good France team': ID:390637: from db_amp
A first Six Nations title and clean sweep since 2010 is in sight for Les Bleus.

Shaun Edwards wants France to give the nation a team they can be proud of after taking another step towards possible Grand Slam glory.

A first Six Nations title and clean sweep since 2010 is in sight for Les Bleus following their thrilling 27-23 victory over Wales.

Wins against Scotland at Murrayfield and Ireland in Paris next month would see France crowned Six Nations champions.

It would also secure another significant entry in Edwards' packed career portfolio – back-to-back Grand Slams – after Wales' triumph last season.

Edwards made one of the few wrong turns on a memorable day for French rugby, admitting that he briefly headed towards the Wales dressing room on his arrival at the Principality Stadium.

It was understandable, given his 12-year stint with Wales that produced four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-final appearances.

But France are now prospering from his masterful defence coaching that again came to the fore as Les Bleus ended a 10-year wait for a win on Welsh soil.

"Everyone was telling me 'remember to go in the right dressing room'! and, honestly, I took one step towards the Welsh one and then I remembered and returned," Edwards said.

"It was a fantastic advert for the game and the Six Nations. It was quite an epic encounter.

France produced a resilient display (Adam Davy/PA)

"The impression I've had is the French public – and I think, actually – that the whole rugby public are crying out for a good French team.

"Definitely the French people want a team to be proud of, and hopefully over the next couple of years maybe we can provide that.

"The attitude has been first class. They (French players) are really buying into how I want them to defend.

"And it's not just that – it's the style of play as well. French teams in the past maybe overplayed in their own half, and it is mixing that French flair with some structured rugby.

"We are slowly getting there. There are still some strides to take, but we are going in the right direction."

“The impression I've had is the French public - and I think, actually - that the whole rugby public are crying out for a good French team”
- Shaun Edwards

Edwards' trademark surfaced just before half-time when France repelled wave after wave of Welsh attacks close to their own line, meaning they took an eight-point lead into the interval.

"I honestly believe if they had scored there, Wales would have won the game," Edwards added. "It was tough defence, but they did well.

"All the credit goes to the players because they dug really deep, and they had to. They were playing the (Six Nations) champions.

"You've got to remember this team we played, they have lost two (Six Nations) games in two years. We were playing a high-quality opponent on their own ground, so we had to do something special.

"What I did do was show them the defence from the World Cup they (French players) were doing.

"They were incorporating Wales-style defence at the tournament, and I said 'this is how good you can be', instead of telling them how bad they can be. I showed them some really positive things, and thankfully they have continued in that vein."

Scotland are next up for France on March 8 – Les Blues have lost on their last three trips to Edinburgh – and Edwards has underlined the game's degree of difficulty.

"Scotland last year was the toughest game of the whole Six Nations for Wales," he said. "I've been very impressed with Scotland so far.

"We have to prepare for that and then we have a six-day turnaround for Ireland, which is difficult."

amp_article__390637 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-02-23 13:18:18:
html db last update - 2021-03-02 20:09:17 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Shaun Edwards

Click here for more stories about Wales

Share this article now:
Read more about Shaun Edwards Rugby Union
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38287396346291
2Arsenal38285591296289
3Liverpool382410486414582
4Aston Villa382081076611568
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs382061274611366
6Chelsea381891177631463
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381861485622360
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd38186145758-160
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham381410146074-1452
10Crystal Palace381310155758-149
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381212145562-748
12Bournemouth38139165467-1348
13Fulham38138175561-647
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38137185065-1546
15Everton38139164051-1140
16Brentford38109195665-939
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3899204967-1832
RLuton TownLuton3868245285-3326
RBurnley3859244178-3724
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd38372835104-6916
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .