The former France and Toulouse hooker, who won 49 caps between 2004 and 2012, played England seven times and boasts more wins (four) than defeats (three). Now overseeing the French pack, he is a master of the dark arts of the scrum.
Scrutinising opponents is second nature to Servat, and England are no exception. But it is not just the scoreline that interests him: it’s the performance, the tactics, the patterns of play. And in that sense, England’s defeat in Dublin on the opening weekend of the Guinness Men's Six Nations offered plenty to analyse.
“I thought it was an impressive performance,” Servat says, acknowledging England’s ability to contain Ireland in the first half before eventually losing their grip. “Perhaps it suggests they are not quite as clinical as before.
“Beyond that game, England are a team in transition. They lost a World Cup semi-final on a scrum decision, but they could easily have won it. They’ve also just come off a tour where they rattled a number of opponents. This is a powerful side, full of quality, intensity, and heart.
“And beyond a few standout individuals, England have plenty of players who can change a game. Their strength is their ability to reignite when things aren’t going their way, to flip a match on its head through sheer talent.”
A unique challenge at Twickenham
Of his seven encounters against England, Servat played at Twickenham only twice in the Championship - a dramatic 18-17 victory in 2005, when he came off the bench, and a 17-9 defeat in 2011, when he started.
“Playing at Twickenham is always special. It leaves a mark, physically and emotionally. You never come away unscathed,” he reveals. “Sometimes you walk away with immense satisfaction, sometimes with bitter disappointment.
“We are preparing for this game as an opportunity, to take on this team on their own turf. But we approach it with humility, knowing how tough the challenge will be.”
That challenge is all the greater given England’s determination to respond after their opening-weekend setback.
“What happened against Ireland is one thing, this is another step, another match,” Servat insists. “It doesn’t change our preparation. We follow the same process.
“Ireland haven’t dominated by chance. They’ve been at the top for some time. As for England, even with a recent defeat, that might just drive them to be even better prepared to face France, to find that extra spark that allows teams to overturn supposedly superior opponents.
“But beyond tactics, rugby remains a combat sport—magnificent, but brutal and demanding. It requires courage and commitment, and this game will be no exception. It will, without doubt, be a real battle.”
A focus on discipline
Last year, in their narrow 33-31 victory over England in Lyon, France capitalised on their opponents’ mistakes, slotting four penalties compared to England’s solitary success from the tee. England conceded 10 penalties to France’s five.
However, during the Autumn Nations Series, discipline became a concern again for Les Bleus, who struggled to keep their penalty count below double figures—11 against Japan, 13 against New Zealand, and 10 against Argentina.
“We often struggle to start tournaments well,” admits Servat. He takes encouragement, though, from the fact that France conceded just three penalties in their opening-round win over Wales in Paris.
“Since the start of this cycle, our opening matches have been marked by too many penalties. I remember a game in Italy where we gave away far too many [18 penalties, though France still scraped a 29-24 win in Rome in 2023].
“We’ve worked hard on this, particularly in making sure players don’t underestimate the difference between club rugby and the international stage. The goal has been to sharpen their focus on the demands of Test rugby. Playing in the Champions Cup has also helped players adapt.
“You can now sense greater clarity on the pitch and better alignment with our game plan, which has translated into fewer penalties.
“We’re also fortunate to have the insight of one of the world’s top referees, Jérôme Garcès, who has been invaluable. His ability to communicate with players and explain refereeing expectations has led to a better understanding of the game and key decisions.”
