Vlok Cilliers: 'France on collision course with Lamborghinis of world rugby - Springboks'

France kicking coach Vlok Cilliers, who joined Fabien Galthie’s management team in 2020, believes that a change in approach has led to their success in the Six Nations.

Having last claimed the tournament in 2010, a youthful French team is on the cusp of something special if they can successfully navigate matches against Wales in Cardiff and England in Paris over the next fortnight.

Cilliers, who played with Galthie for Western Province in the 1990s, says that the idea of being involved with a "sleeping giant of world rugby" was too good to turn down.

He credits his former teammate for being open-minded and welcoming foreign coaching influence to enhance the set-up.

"If I’m not mistaken, I think it’s the first time in French history that they have two foreign coaches involved with the national side," Cilliers tells Sport24 in reference to himself and former Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards.

"It’s actually a big honour for myself and Shaun that a person of Fabien’s pedigree chose to bring two coaches from outside the French culture into the inner-circle.

"I think what Fabien has done well is that he has put the right people around him. He has really good coaches and a strong management team in place. It’s a very talented playing group we have at the moment with a young age profile and, as coaches, it’s up to us to always get the best out of them."

Cilliers reveals that his command of the French language still leaves a lot to be desired but he has wholeheartedly embraced the French culture.

He is able to communicate with the players, having learned some key rugby terms and drives his message across in training sessions and team meetings.

"We have discussed where we want to be as a team six months down the line but we don’t