Berliner Tageszeitung - Alldritt says Ollivon bears no hard feelings over France captaincy

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Alldritt says Ollivon bears no hard feelings over France captaincy

SPORTS 19.01.2024

Alldritt says Ollivon bears no hard feelings over France captaincy / Photo: © AFP

Gregory Alldritt says Charles Ollivon holds no bitter feelings about him being named French captain for the Six Nations and will be the "first to support him" in his duties.

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Alldritt got the nod over Ollivon, who was French skipper before a serious injury sidelined him in 2022 and Antoine Dupont took the role, because at 26 he is four years younger than his fellow backrow forward, with the goal of the 2027 World Cup in mind.

Dupont is sitting out the Six Nations as he has his eyes on Olympic Sevens gold later this year on home soil but that allows France coach Fabien Galthie to widen the options as captain of the XV side.

Alldritt's first Six Nations match as skipper could not be harder -- they face defending champions Ireland in Marseille on February 2.

He said it was a huge honour to be appointed and a source of "great pride" even if he added he was focused on two-time defending champions La Rochelle's Champions Cup match with English side Sale on Sunday.

The No 8 -- who took some time out after France's exit in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final to eventual champions South Africa -- was at pains to put to rest any suggestion of ill feeling on Ollivon's part.

He revealed he had phoned Toulon's Ollivon after his appointment had been made official.

"He (Ollivon) is someone with whom I get on really well," said Alldritt, who captained France in their Rugby World Cup warm-up match with Fiji last year.

"He is someone I appreciate both as a player and as a human being.

"It was important I speak with him, there are no worries about the feelings between us, and I am sure he will be the first player to support me."

Alldritt, who said he would draw on numerous sources to help him with his new duties, received the thumbs-up from Dupont.

"I am delighted that it is Greg," said Dupont on Friday.

"I am not at all worried for him. He will be at ease in his new role and will be very well supported on the pitch by other senior players who are still in the squad."

Dupont admitted it would be weird seeing his French teammates depart for training camp leaving him behind, but insisted Alldritt was hardly a rookie in terms of captaincy as he had done the job at club level at La Rochelle.

"He has plenty of experience with matches at the highest level, whether with the France team or with La Rochelle," said Dupont.

"To be a double champion of Europe is quite something.

"He captained his club twice to the Champions Cup trophy.

"I hope that this will bring him a third title this year, in blue this time."

T. Jones--BTZ