“I haven’t given my international retirement yet”: the third line wing Wenceslas Lauret, who has 27 selections with the XV of France but was not selected for the Six Nations Tournament, keeps the hope of a return in blue.
If he did not give his international retirement, “inevitably, that leaves possibilities” to return, one day, with the team of France, declared Thursday in press conference Lauret before the match of his club, Racing 92, against La Rochelle in Top 14 on Saturday.
But while the French team has an excellent tournament with three victories against England, Italy, and Wales, is the blue house still opening the door for the player who will celebrate his 31st birthday in March? “At least they called me to tell me that I won’t be there,” replies Lauret, who “thanks to the staff for doing it”.
“If we are performing on the ground, that leaves possibilities, but if we are not, as was the case in Lyon (defeat 29-20), we should not even hope.”
After the convincing victories of the Blues, “there are players who are installed and to get them out, it’s impossible”, he continues, after “the very good results which follow, it is a beautiful selection which is not yet touchable “.
Three-time World Cup holder last fall in Japan, Lauret has not been called since arrival as coach of Fabien Galthie.
A video from the Stade 2 program, published at the end of 2019, had shown differences of opinion between the two men on the living environment within the XV of France. “It is not the first time that my image has been scratched, it is like that,” swept Lauret, criticized after this broadcast.
“I just hope they win the tournament,” he smiles. Without bitterness? “Which Frenchman is not satisfied with this French team? We are close to the Grand Slam, ten years later we are going to bring the cup home”.
