MARCOUSSIS, France: France have got to stop asking questions of themselves and start thinking positively, according to centre Mathieu Bastareaud.
The 24-year-old was surprisingly dropped from the starting line-up for last Saturday’s 13-13 draw with Ireland as he had made more of an impact than most of the backs in their three Six Nations defeats.
However, whether he is in the starting XV or not for the final game with Scotland at the Stade de France this Saturday, he is hoping the whole squad can leave the tournament with one good performance under their belts.
“If we all have the will to put on a great performance against the Scots, then we can do something special,” said Bastareaud, whose constant battle with his weight has been a worry for France coach Philippe Saint-Andre.
“The talent and the quality is there. We have stopped this series of defeats. Now it is for us to moved in an upward spiral.
“It will be good to end with a victory but it will not be easy. We are not going to say we are going to score 40 points against the Scots in order to give pleasure to everybody. It isn’t as simple as that.”
Bastareaud, said that it was time for him and his team-mates to stop thinking about what would happen if they lost.
“The objective is to win, and if possible in style,” said the Toulon powerhouse, yesterday.
AFP
