"Absences are no excuse."

It's a strange time you're going through right now?

"It's a strange time. We've been, shall we say, rather lucky so far with the Covid 19. There, we were hit hard, with more than fifteen cases. We trained in small groups, during the previous weeks. We resumed the collective last weekend and this week to prepare as well as possible this reception in Rouen on Friday evening. »

You've had to adapt with small group workouts. The weeks are a little different?

"Yes, different weeks, but we still kept our focus. As you say, it's still special, it's behind closed doors, we have Covids. But I have the impression that this year is going to be punctuated by all these little hazards. We'll have to deal with them. And play the games as they come, one after the other. »

Are you ready to play?

"Ah yes, we're ready! That's for sure we're ready. On the eve of a game, we're ready. We're 100% ready. We have our heart set on having a big game at home, to stay undefeated, again. We are very ready, it is better. »

Isn't there any risk concerning your state of form, on start-up?

"No, I think we're still in shape. We only had 5 days of rest, so we came back quite quickly. We worked very hard. I'm not too worried about the players' fitness. That should do it. No, no worries about that. »

You will undoubtedly lack of landmarks with notably Ange Capuozzo, in the position of fly-half?

"For sure there are fewer landmarks than there would have been if everyone had been there. But hey, that's no excuse for us. We have to adapt and make do with it to have a great game on Friday night. »

Three weeks without a game, was it getting to be a long time?

"For sure, we were hoping to play last week. But unfortunately, we couldn't go to Angoulême. Three weeks is a long time. It's still good to cut a little bit after these games that followed one another. But we have in heart to come back to the Stade des Alpes and to play a big game. »