Fabien Galthié, coach of the XV of France, at the microphone of France 2:
“The staff have been great. It’s not from today, it’s been two and a half years. The work carried out with passion, commitment, without concession allowed us to get this victory this evening and to conclude this Tournament with a Grand Slam. I still can’t figure it out, that’s the thing. We are still under tension… Wow, what a path, what a path… (What difference with the Grand Slams won as a player in 1997, 1998, 2002?) Twenty years apart! »
Antoine Dupont, captain of the XV of France, at the microphone of France 2:
“It was our third tournament together, we finished twice in second place, it was frustrating because these were matches where we could win and where it was not much. Today we wanted to be able to win and especially this grand slam. It’s amazing we know how tough this competition is and how long the public was waiting for this and so were we.
(Regarding his tears at the end of the match) We think back to all the sacrifices, the training sessions, what we have endured for weeks. It was nice to let go when it wins. (Concerning next year) The rest may start on Monday. Everything is in a corner of the head. We had to win competitions to prepare for a World Cup at home and I think this team is very ambitious and gives itself the means to be so. »
Damian Penaud, winger of the XV of France, at the microphone of France 2:
“It’s a release. We wanted to finish this tournament well. We didn’t do all that for nothing, we had to make it happen, something we did tonight. We didn’t let go. We know the state of mind of this group and that’s what made us win tonight. We are sometimes under pressure in training, we manage to stay cool, be lucid and we all trust each other. I wink at my dad who has 32 selections like me, it’s a small symbol and I also owe it to him in part.
Melvyn Jaminet, back of the XV of France, at the microphone of France 2:
“It’s something magical. The group is magical. We saw it again this week with the importance of this match. No one stressed, everyone had only one goal, which was to win. Tonight we proved that we were more than a group. We are a bunch of colleagues. It is important for the whole group to write our history.
It’s been two years that everyone has been working very hard to get there. Tonight we accomplished something big. Make a grand slam with the Blues a year ago? I would have said it was impossible. For my first six nations to do a grand slam, there is nothing more beautiful and it exceeds all my dreams. »