International Rugby

When you are scared, you play good rugby – Bastareaud welcomes All Blacks fear

New Zealand’s Eden Park may be an intimidating venue for visiting teams, but Mathieu Bastareaud believes that works in France’s favour.

Published

8 years ago

8th June 2018

KEO News Wire

Mathieu Bastareaud wants France to be “scared” of facing New Zealand at Eden Park, as he believes that will lead to his side playing their best rugby.

Bastareaud will captain a weakened visiting outfit, with only the Toulon centre and Maxime Medard remaining from the team that last beat the All Blacks in 2009.

The 29-year-old skipper will look to motivate less experienced team-mates ahead of Saturday’s clash, but he believes they would be better off playing with fear – as he did nine years ago.

“We have Maxime Medard and myself who have won here before and we talk about that to the young guys, to motivate them, to make them hungry about this,” he said

“It’s not the same players or teams as then, it’s very different.

“I remember it was unreal. I was never thinking we’d win that game, because we played scared.

“But, for me, I think when you are scared, you play good rugby, you play a good game. So tomorrow, I hope we will be scared.”

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