Bleus must learn from mistakes - Jauzion
February 05 2010
France centre Yannick Jauzion say Les Bleus cannot afford to make the same mistakes as last year when they take on Scotland in their Six Nations opener on Sunday.
Marc Lièvremont's men recorded an unconvincing 22-13 win over Scotland at the Stade de France in the tournament last year in an error-strewn game.
Jauzion knows it will be a different story at Murrayfield and has urged his team-mates not to let their guard down.
"Despite our victory, they put us in difficulty quite a few times," he told L'Equipe.
"Maybe we weren't serious enough and coherent in defence. We let them get forward too many times.
"We managed to put right their attacks more often than not but we will not be able to repeat that sort of recovery in Scotland."
Jauzion and his controversial partner Mathieu Bastareaud will find themselves up against Max Evans and Graeme Morrison on Sunday.
And the Toulouse man hopes his understanding with Bastareaud can help them combat the formidable Glasgow Warriors duo.
"I have already played with Mathieu, against Wales and England last year," said Jauzion.
"It's above all down to our communication, that's key for our post in letting us get forward.
"It's normal that he'll get his bearings from me, he depends on my runs in organising the play. Last year we played well together.
"We played against the two Glasgow centres last year. Evans has great qualities with his explosive power and his outflanking. Morrison is more physical, capable of handling the ball for Scotland.
"They are not easy to defend against taking into account their complementary style of play and their capacity to play in the defence.
"Like the All Blacks, they initiate moves by having very close support of ball carriers."
France's preparations for the game have been hampered by a series of injury problems.
Already without Biarritz trio Fabien Barcella, Damien Traille and Dimitri Yachvili, now Sebastien Chabal, Romain Millo-Chluski and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde have all been forced to pull out of Sunday's opener.
But Jauzion believes they have every chance of repeating their success of three years ago and lifting the trophy.
"Our team is complete," he said.
"It's up to us to be aware of that. We really have a team to have great games.
"But above all we have to give ourselves the means to fulfil our aims by our work-ethic and ambition on the pitch."