Fired-up France fuelled by Jones comments
Gregory Alldritt says a warning from Eddie Jones added fuel to French fires as IT started the Fabien Galthie era with a 24-17 Six Nations defeat of England.
England coach Jones said a young France side should be braced for "absolute brutality" and to "understand what Test rugby is" at the beginning of their new dawn at the Stade de France.
Jones might have been regretting those comments as Les Bleus scored 24 points without reply in the Paris rain, new captain Charles Ollivon getting a try in each half after Vincent Rattez's early score.
A sublime double from Jonny May gave England a glimmer of hope, but they could only muster a losing bonus point from an error-strewn display courtesy of an Owen Farrell penalty right at the end.
France showed immense physicality as it defended stoutly and man-of-the-match Alldritt revealed Les Bleus were determined to show Jones what they are made of.
"Eddie was saying that we couldn't manage the brutality of the England team," he said. "But when you are a winner, a competitor, you just want to show him that you can manage that.
"Of course we read it. We were clearly going to put some fighting spirit out there."
Alldritt was also full of praise for the impact new defence coach Shaun Edwards has made.
The La Rochelle back-rower said: "Shaun is a tough guy and he always wants aggression from you, in every bit of work and in every tackle.
"He wants big tackles. And speed in the tackle. He is bringing a lot of experience to us at international level and a lot of competence too."
