Medard warns of expecting too much
French back returns to team more than a year after serious knee injury
Maxime Medard is set to make his first appearance for France in over a year in Dublin on Saturday but the exciting back says people must not expect miracles from him in the Six Nations clash with Ireland.
The 26-year-old Toulouse star admits he still carries the effects of the ruptured cruciate ligaments he suffered in the opening Six Nations match with Scotland last year.
However, he has earned his recall to the squad at the expense of wing Benjamin Fall because of the attacking possibilities he brings and which has seen him score 10 tries for his country.
The French are in dire need of some attacking spark after making their worst start to a Five/Six Nations since 1982 in losing their first three matches and are in danger of ending up with their first wooden spoon since 1957.
"Maxime is very interesting in terms of his style of play," said French backs coach Patrice Lagisquet. "He is a creative player, he can bring danger in different parts of the pitch.
"He also has a physical dimension to him which is interesting," added Lagisquet.
Medard, a member of the French side who lost 8-7 to New Zealand in the 2011 World Cup final, said having come through the two Top 14 games against Bayonne and then the defeat by leaders Toulon last Saturday, things were coming together.
"I feel good, I have recovered my feel for the game. I am taking it at stages, my kicking game is returning progressively, plenty of things are starting to work.
"I can't bend my knee totally yet, but that is normal, one requires more than a year for that. I'm feeling 99 per cent."
Medard, a two-time European Cup winner with Toulouse and three-time French champion, said he hoped too much wasn't expected of him and that he would singlehandedly turn French fortunes round.
"There aren't too many things missing from the team which can get us a win," he said.
"There is already a squad in place and it is for me to adapt. I prefer to stay discreet."
