We have to tell ourselves hard truths: Traille

France's bid to rebound from their humiliating 34-10 Six Nations defeat to England last Sunday depends on them being honest with themselves and accepting some hard truths if they are not to repeat their abject performance, veteran French back Damien Traille said on Wednesday.

The French - who have beaten Scotland and Wales but lost to Ireland - face strugglers Italy this Saturday in Rome but 29-year-old Traille said that was no guarantee of success unless they shaped up and accepted their responsibilities.

"It has been difficult over the past couple of days," admitted Traille, who will win his 67th cap on Saturday.

"We watched the videos, and asked ourselves a large amount of questions in order to work out why we just simply didn't turn up.

"We think we have found some of the answers and we are going to work on those in order to produce a different performance on Saturday because it just simply isn't good enough to repeat it.

"It is vital to say certain things, nothing but hard truths will suffice. Sometimes, it is difficult to listen to but in the end it puts people on the right path," added Traille, who was left out of the first couple of squads but returned for the England match coming on as a replacement in the second-half.

Traille, who will start at fullback for the first time since the 2007 World Cup semi-final against England where his early mistake let in England for what turned out to be the crucial score, said the players needed to show real character against an Italian side that apart from pushing Wales close last Saturday have been hugely disappointing this campaign.

"We were awaiting a big match against England, and knew that it was going to be very difficult," said the Biarritz star, who normally plays at centre.

"We have another match this weekend, and that is the best way to rediscover your confidence.

"Individually and collectively, we all have a challenge to overcome."

Traille, who was a member of the side that were defeated by England in both the 2003 and 2007 World Cup semi-finals, for his part is not too concerned about making a rare appearance at fullback.

"I have played at fullback several times for my club this season," said Traille, who has scored 115 points for his country since making his debut in 2001.

"And seeing the system that we have put in place at national level, it is not that different from what we are doing at Biarritz and so it should go fine."







Part of Compania Church is reflected in a mirror in Quito, Ecuador, on March 15. REUTERS/Guillermo Granja