On Saturday night in Paris, France will win their first Grand Slam since 2010, if they beat England.
Much of the credit for their stunning resurgence since the last World Cup has been attributed to Shaun Edwards, in his role as defence coach in Fabien Galthie’s set-up.
Sportsmail columnist Danny Cipriani emerged as a precocious rookie talent at Wasps, under the guidance of the former Great Britain rugby league icon and the pair formed a close bond which endures to this day.
Here, they discuss Edwards’ work with France, his phenomenal record of title-winning success in both codes and the momentous fixture at the Stade de France…
Shaun Edwards (left) discussed his work with France with Sportsmail's Danny Cipriani (right)
Danny Cipriani: Shaun, your record in big games both as a player and a coach is out of this world. I’ve been in finals with you and in finals with other coaches and the difference is dramatic.
What allows you to stay so composed and calm in weeks like this? When it comes to these matches, it’s almost like you live for that moment and you’re even more focused. Where does that come from?
Shaun Edwards: It goes all the way back to when I was a schoolboy at St John Fisher in Wigan. We had a great coach called Mr Steve McLeod. You had to earn his respect.
When you got his respect, he softened up a bit towards you and he’d give you advantages which he didn’t give easily.
Cipriani (right) reached finals under the coaching of Edwards (left) while at Wasps
A lot of my coaching style goes all the way back to him, like being big on fitness. We were doing chin-ups when I was 12 or 13. We were miles ahead of everyone else. We were doing bodyweight exercises to get stronger and training at a higher intensity than what we played at. A lot of it goes back to Mr McLeod.
DC: To put this in context for everyone, with other coaches I got to finals with, they wanted to tick every box. It felt like their meetings and messages got longer.
With Shaun, it was even more direct and concise. The message was simplified, and it felt completely different, like you were in control of your own destiny.
That was the difference I found between you and other coaches. You were miles apart. What was it you had – 32 finals wins as a player?
SE: I had 37 winners’ medals as a player and I think the total is now 54. One of my favourites is still the Heineken Cup Final win of 2007, which you played in, Danny.
Everyone said we had no chance but we had a great performance. The tackle you made on the big winger, Alesana Tuilagi – how long had we been practicing that tackle? Four months!
DC: We watched the Premiership Final between Gloucester and Leicester the week before. Tuilagi went through and steamrollered someone in that game. But we’d been working on how to tackle him for four months. We called it the Cumberland roll.
SE: Mate, when I saw that coming I thought to myself: ‘This is it, Danny – make sure you tackle him!’ You did it, you flipped him, and he fell straight over!
That guy was 18-and-a-half stone and six foot five and you were 19 and you flipped him! Fair play. We had practised it so much.
DC: You can win the Grand Slam with France this weekend – would that be one of your greatest feats, after the drastic change you’ve made there in such a short space of time?
SE: It’s not just been me. We’ve got very good coaches and Fabien is very professional. He helps a lot with the defence outside the 22 and likes to do the analysis on opposition teams.
I concentrate on defence inside the 22 as that’s where most tries are conceded. Raphael Ibanez, who we know from our Wasps days… I reckon 75 per cent of his speeches are about defence, unity, and what a buzz you can get about doing it. I think I’ve brainwashed him on that from when he was playing for Wasps!
DC: In terms of individuals, you’ve worked with some crazily talented players, but how good is Antoine Dupont? For me, it looks like he’s got everything.
SE: He’s an amazing athlete, but he’s a little bit cheesed off at the moment because he hasn’t won the defensive player award. I’ve been giving a bottle of Dom Perignon out for that after every match. He thought he should have got it against Scotland, but I didn’t give one against Scotland.
Antione Dupont is 'cheesed off' he has not won the defensive player award from Edwards
I told him I was a bit skint because they’re €200 a bottle. I told him I’ve had to sell my car to do this! Antoine is a bit cheesed off he hasn’t won it yet, but I’m trying to keep him motivated for this final game against England! Gael Fickou is a pretty special player as well, he’s a top leader.
DC: Did you have Fickou ear-marked before you went in with France? Did you know you liked him?
SE: Yes. I’d heard a few negative things about him, but I didn’t care two hoots about that. I make my own mind up.
I followed his career from 2012 when I watched him in Madrid with France Under 18s. I did an article about him which said: ‘I’ve seen the future of French rugby’. He played for France 18 months later.
He’s got 60-odd caps and is only 27. He’s not let me down. He’s very professional, a great leader, and has a good way of talking to other players – sometimes harshly, sometimes softly.
