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Imanol Harinordoquy believes adopting a more ‘mature’ approach to the game has helped him reclaim his place in the France team.
The 26-year-old was on Tuesday named in French side that will take on Ireland in a crunch RBS Six Nations Championship clash at Croke Park on Sunday.
Many will remember the back row forward for his impressive displays at the 2003 World Cup, but his stock has fallen slightly since then and he has hardly figured for his country in the past two years.
During that time, Harinordoquy feels he has developed his game and he has returned to the France fold eager, and with a completely different outlook compared to the 21-year-old who stormed on to the international scene in 2002.
He said: ‘I am no longer the same player. I am perhaps more calm, more applied and less fiery. I have gained maturity. I have rediscovered my qualities and I hope that I will be better than the last time I played.’
‘Today, I feel that I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I feel like I did when I had only two or three caps. I really want to do well. It gives me great satisfaction to be playing a very good team like Ireland, who can win the tournament.
‘We are going to play in front of 80,000 spectators in surroundings that are a bit strange. The icing on the cake would be if we won the match.’
