France's Loann Goujon is ready to take on Italy in Six Nations
Sunday 15 March 2015 18:01, UK
Loann Goujon believes France will be "ready for anything" when they face Italy in the Six Nations on Sunday.
The Italians come into the Six Nations fixture at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on the back of a 22-19 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield a fortnight ago.
In contrast, Les Bleus have lost their last two games in the competition and have been beaten by Italy in their last two encounters.
Goujon, who plays for La Rochelle in the Top 14, will start at No 8 for France as one of eight changes from the home defeat to Wales and he feels they are ready for the test that lies ahead.
He told the French rugby federation's official website www.ffr.fr: "Our team seeks lightness in our play and that's what we will try to do. But we will be ready for anything and adapt accordingly.
"This Italy team is a team we know well - it has evolved in recent years. The Italians put a lot of fight into their matches, as we saw against Scotland.
“But I can tell you we go into this game with a lot of desire and heart."
Italy captain Sergio Parisse - who plays his club rugby in France with Stade Francais - is keen to dampen down any sense of over-confidence among his team-mates and supporters.
"Sincerely, I would never have the arrogance to say nothing comes in twos but threes," he said.
"The last two times it went well, but before that we have taken some real blows. We will play with the utmost humility.
"For us the goal tomorrow is to play with the same desire, the same heart and the same spirit in which we played in Scotland: the scrums will be tougher, the maul will be harder, they have a great defence."
Asked whether the French game was in crisis, Parisse told Gazzetta dello Sport: "In the Top 14 there are great players, there are controversies, but they remain well above us.
"It will be a great fight. With the rain, the game will be much more closed and less spectacular. We want to keep great intensity and possession of the ball."
