MARK RODDENfinds the big centre determined to be back to his rampaging best on Sunday after a lacklustre display against Scotland

IMMEDIATELY AFTER last October’s World Cup final, Aurélien Rougerie offered a remarkable apology to the French media.

Normally one of the most honest and approachable players in the squad, his gruff attitude following the defeat to Tonga in the pool stage had not gone unnoticed by confused local journalists.

Liberated after the defeat against New Zealand, however, Rougerie revealed his behaviour had all been premeditated. The experienced centre went out to be troublesome to deflect attention from the younger players in the squad, some of whom had been struggling to deal with intense criticism as France somehow limped through to the final.

The ruse shows how influential the Clermont captain has become both on and off the field, and he was clearly back to his more relaxed self when speaking at the French team’s headquarters this week.

Perhaps Rougerie is just happy to get the chance to add to his 73 caps for France, after openly admitting he was annoyed by his below par display against Scotland last weekend.

French coach Philippe Saint-André has backed Rougerie to return to his best against Ireland but the 31-year-old admits he is relieved not to have been dropped.

“It would have been justified,” Rougerie said. “When you look at the stats – out of the 14 missed tackles I had five of them. Obviously it was annoying.

“It gives me a lot of motivation and fires me up. I want to fight it out but I’ll have to wait until Sunday all the same – it won’t do much good tackling my team-mates for nothing in training!”

Rougerie is among a number of players doing extra work with backs coach Patrice Lagisquet this week, to iron out the problems in France’s new defensive system so apparent in Edinburgh.

But after France’s sluggish opening 20 minutes in the games against both Italy and Scotland, how do they avoid a repeat against Ireland?

“That’s a good question and one for which we’re trying to find a solution,” Rougerie said. “My own personal suggestion is maybe to try to win the ball from the kick-off.

“That could get us into the game straight away – instead of starting off in our own half and giving the ball back to our opponent, try to win it back directly in their half and put some phases together if we get it.

“In the first 20 minutes we’ve been completely dominated, particularly against Scotland,” he continued. “I remember last year in the Six Nations match in Ireland we had a difficult first 15 minutes too. So it’s obvious that Ireland will be looking to start the match in a similar fashion.”

Reminded of the decisive break he made for Maxime Médard’s match-winning try in Dublin last year, Rougerie preferred to concentrate on the opening period.

“Yes, but I also have memories of guys like O’Brien and Heaslip brushing past us in first 20 minutes. You have to put that into perspective too, so I think the start of the match will definitely be vital.”

Rougerie will have his club-mate Wesley Fofana alongside him against Ireland, and he speaks highly of the progress the 24-year-old has made after leaving his home in the Paris suburbs.

Fofana lost 10 kilos as he added further pace and stamina to his game after turning pro. He has scored two tries in his opening two Six Nations matches.

It has been quite a turnaround for Fofana since he joined Clermont four years ago but Rougerie has also undergone a transformation since then, leaving the wing behind to become one of the most powerful centres in the world.

He says it will be odd not to face fellow veteran Brian O’Driscoll in Paris this weekend though, jokingly comparing him to his equivalent in terms of popular appeal in France.

“No one is irreplaceable – look how well we’re playing without [Sébastien] Chabal,” he laughed. “Brian needs time to look after himself and injuries are part of sport at the highest level. The fact he’s had to take time out suits us.

“But they’re just as dangerous. Keith Earls put in a very good performance against Italy and he filled his role very well in the centre, even though he’s a wing too. They have enough leaders in O’Connell, Heaslip, O’Brien and O’Callaghan so I wouldn’t be worried for them.”