‘France need killer instinct to beat England’

LONDON: France must show a killer instinct if they are to beat a ‘monumental’ England side and shine in the Six Nations, manager Guy Noves said on Wednesday.

Les Bleus, who start their campaign on February 4 at Twickenham, have improved under Noves since he took charge following the 2015 World Cup, but for all their flair, they have been lacking efficiency.

“Given what they showed in the last two years, (England) are a monument,” Noves told reporters at the Six Nations launch.

“Our challenge is to come close to this great team. (Last year) they beat us by playing rough and with efficiency, while France produce a lot of play but we are less effective.

“Just like New Zealand, they are clinical. They can be on the back foot but they still win.”

That is exactly what France need, according to Noves.

“We must be better in finishing off our attacks. Because that is how they beat us,” the manager said.

“We must be ‘killers’, in the sense that in November, there were many occasions when we were one, two or three metres from scoring a try. Now the players know what they are capable of.”

France beat Samoa 52-8 before losing 25-23 to Australia and 24-19 to New Zealand while England ended the year unbeaten with victories against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia.

Noves’ squad has been severely hit by injuries but he believes Les Bleus are on the right path.

“We’re not far from our goal. We have to perform, be spectacular but most of all, efficient ,” he said. – Reuters