Mayans “We expect a tough game”
The selection of Marjorie Mayans and Sha’nnon Izar from the French sevens squad for their Six Nations game against Wales was one of the biggest surprises of this season’s Six Nations. None of the semi-professional sevens squad have trained with the fifteens team since the end of the World Cup in August, and because French priorities in 2015 are for Olympic qualification, there were strong hints before the tournament that the two squads would remain separate.
Published by John Birch, February 26th, 2015
3 minute read
A few days after the team was announced, centre Marjorie Mayans (who also plays as a forward in sevens) spoke about her reintegration into the fifteens programme how her new teammates are approaching their crucial game against the Welsh.
This is the first time you have worked with the new fifteens programme since the World Cup, what are your impressions of this new squad?
Marjorie Mayans: I’m very happy to meet up again with the teammates I have not worked with since last August, after the World Cup, but I have discovered all the new players who just joined the French team, and there is a great atmosphere. It has been a great pleasure to integrate with the group.
How did you switch back into XVs after the sevens tournament in Sao Paulo?
MM: I am already used to switching between 7s with the French team and XVs with my club, so I have learnt to be able to quickly adapt to different playing styles and squads.
How do you see the match against Wales? You beat them twice in 2014 but they have just won against the English, the world champions?
MM: We expect a tough game, as always, with this team. They always competitive in all areas against us, and play with a lot of aggression. They have quality players, some who are really world-class. So we are preparing to receive a very good Welsh team buoyed up with confidence after their win in their first two games. They will believe that they have a shot here, so will not be to beat – we have to beware of them.
Will you tell us about the group's goals for the game?
MM: The game is part of the fifteens project where we want to develop gradually, with all the new people joining the Group. We are setting careful benchmarks, we try to get better with each game.
From a personal point of view, what will be your contribution to the game against Wales?
MM: I approach this game like any other. I want to be at my best and be as most effective as possible. If I have the opportunity to play, it will be a chance for me to show what I can do and make my contribution to the squad.