"To be world champions you must have the full package"

The France defence coach looks ahead to the Rugby World Cup in France

- SHAUN EDWARDS

FRANCE IS a very beautiful country with lots of hospitable people, and I’m sure the Rugby World Cup party will look after itself and be fantastic. It’s what happens on the pitch that I’m judged on.

To actually get the World Cup first and foremost was a great feat by the FFR. Off the pitch I’m sure it will be a marvellous occasion, but I’ve got to be really single-minded. For me, it’s how fast can we chase the kick-offs? And make sure we get out of the 22 with a minimum of fuss. So that is my total, total, total concentration.

We have warm-up matches against very good opposition. Scotland are a strong team now. Then we’ve got a game against Fiji and we all know how much they’ve improved over the last few years. And then we’ve got one against Australia. Everyone is talking about them being a real threat at the World Cup; Eddie Jones has gone back, and they have a lot of players coming back to fitness. So we have to give various players a chance in various positions, and there could be a bolter or two who makes the World Cup squad.