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Ouedraogo, France`s tackling machine

Friday 04th July 2008

Just doing his job: Fulgence Ouedraogo

The weaknesses of France's under-strength team in Australia have been well-documented ahead of the second Test in Brisbane on Saturday but no one can deny the strength of their back row, especially their tackling machine Fulgence Ouedraogo.

As the France's number one tackler in the first Test against the Wallabies, the tricolore loose forward spoke of his role in the French team. The 22-year-old might only have seven caps but he is considered one of the senior players in the inexperienced France side face Australia at Suncorp Stadium.

"Let's not exaggerate. If I can help those players who are winning their first cap the way I was helped when I won mine, it would be good," Ouedraogo told French website rugbyrama.

"Even if I've started to feel the weight of the fatigue accumulated during the season I'm going to give everything to finish the season off in style. On the scale of a lifetime, 80 minutes isn't much."

With fourteen tackles made in the first Test in Sydney, Ouedraogo was France's best defender, but says his performance should be seen in the context of the match.

"I don't know, I'm just doing my job," said the Montpellier flanker when asked where he gets all that energy from.

"We were being dominated and didn't get much chance to carry the ball. In that context, it's normal for a loose forward to be more present than a centre. There's nothing extraordinary in that statistic: one doesn't highlight a number nine who made 30 passes in a match..."

Unsurprisingly, Ouedraogo reckons Australia's best are a little more robust than the opposition he faces in the Top 14. He also gave some insight into France's technique in competing for the ball.

"They're really solid in the impact. Every tackle was an intense battle. It's probably tougher than in the [French] championship," he said.

"In the French National team, we're asked to execute tackles in pairs. The first player has the job of getting the ball carrier down, the second goes for the ball as fast as possible.

"Two out of three times [I do the tackling]."

France will be facing the Wallabies again in November, this time with a full strength side, and Ouedraogo should be one of the few survivors from this tour. But he is not taking his selection for granted.

"The French national team doesn't belong to anyone. I know better than anyone that you have to fight like a man possessed to get selected. I'm young, I'm living neither in the past nor in the future. Let me just savour the present and the match this weekend."