Blast from the Past: "Fired-up France were fuelled by Jones comments - Alldritt" (2019)
- 1186
Man-of-the-match Gregory Alldritt said France were determined to show Eddie Jones they have fighting spirit in Paris.
Gregory Alldritt says a warning from Eddie Jones added fuel to French fires as they started the Fabien Galthie era with a 24-17 Six Nations defeat of England.
England head coach Jones said a young France side should be braced for "absolute brutality" and to "understand what Test rugby is" at the beginning of their new dawn at the Stade de France on Sunday.
Jones might have been regretting those comments as Les Bleus scored 24 points without reply in the Paris rain, new captain Charles Ollivon getting a try in each half after Vincent Rattez's early score.
A sublime double from Jonny May gave England a glimmer of hope, but they could only muster a losing bonus point from an error-strewn display courtesy of an Owen Farrell penalty right at the end.
#LeCrunch didn't disappoint...
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 2, 2020
Catch up with all the key moments from a ferocious encounter at the Stade de France#FRAvENG #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/jKh699R2Xv
France showed immense physicality as they defended for their lives and man-of-the-match Alldritt revealed they were determined to show Jones what they are made of.
"Eddie was saying that we couldn't manage the brutality of the England team," said the number eight.
"But when you are a winner, a competitor, you just want to show him that you can manage that.
"Of course we read it. We were clearly going to put some fighting spirit out there."
Alldritt was also full of praise for the impact new defence coach Shaun Edwards has made.
The La Rochelle back-rower said: "Shaun is a tough guy and he always wants aggression from you, in every bit of work and in every tackle.
"He wants big tackles. And speed in the tackle. He is bringing a lot of experience to us at international level and a lot of competence too."
