Lièvremont wielded the axe after the crushing defeat in Rome – axing six players in an attempt to finish the tournament on a high note.
Les Bleus never looked liked losing on their home patch and cantered to a 28-9 win in Stade de France to relieve the pressure on Lièvremont.
“What is important here was the reaction of the players – it was a manly reaction,” he said.
“It’s not about what was said outside the group but what was said within the group and this what went right on the field.”
“I feel happy. I also feel a bit of relief. I’m really impatient to leave this room to go and enjoy a beer,” he joked.
Double try-scoring lock Lionel Nallet said the six players axed from the team last week were in his thoughts.
“We won today, but we haven’t forgotten that only six players paid for our collective failure,” said the former captain. “Anyone of us could have been one of those six that had to leave.”
Captain Thierry Dusautoir was delighted to be back to winning ways. “I’m happy for the team, and also happy for the management, especially after this hard week.
“We deserved that tough week after the result in Italy. I’m happy with the way we bounced back.”
