Does Lions hangover give France a Six Nations advantage?
"But on a Lions tour, it feels like you're doing that for two years straight, or 18 months straight, with very little break in between. "I think we can all see the home nations - they have weekends where they haven't emotionally peaked and France seem to do that more. "I remember after my last 2017 Lions tour going back to my agent and saying 'I just need a break'.
That was my first thought. I remember saying 'I don't care if I don't get paid – I just need a break'. It is emotionally draining.
" France take title after winning high-scoring thriller against England England wing Tommy Freeman and Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong both said similar after being involved in last summer's Lions tour of Australia. "Without realising it, I think I was tired," Freeman said of his return to club side Northampton. "My body felt like I was OK to go and I was saying to coaches 'Yeah I'm fine, I'm fine'.
I just think mentally it was a bit more of a struggle. " Three-time Lion Furlong said: "Everything maybe seems insignificant the year after. " France's players may not have that much sympathy.
A campaign in their domestic top flight – the Top 14 – can stretch to 29 matches. The equivalent figure for the English Prem and the United Rugby Championship is 20 and 21 matches respectively. However, unlike with the Home Nations, France usually rest their top stars for their summer tours.