France scrum-half Morgan Parra admits that he is simply focused on trying to enjoy his rugby rather than on forcing his way back into Les Bleus head coach Guy Noves’ plans.
The Clermont No.9 has not appeared for his country since last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat to the All Blacks.
He did not feature in the 2016 RBS 6 Nations after suffering a foot injury just before the tournament and has been left out by Noves from the 30-man player squad announced in July of this year.
Youngster Baptiste Serin has been preferred as a scrum-half option with Maxime Machenaud and Sebastien Bezy – who shared the No.9 jersey during the 2016 RBS 6 Nations – both retained.
But Parra – who is still only 27 and has won 66 caps for Les Bleus – is just happy to be back and enjoying his rugby.
Clermont are first in the Top 14 as the only unbeaten team left in the competition and the scrum-half is loving life in the Massif Central.
“I am enjoying myself to the maximum at the moment and I keep telling myself that if I take pleasure in working every week with my teammates – then that will be reflected on the weekend,” he said.
“We are confident but not so far up in the clouds that we have forgotten how quickly you can come back down to earth.
“The clash with Toulon next Sunday will be huge clash. It has been a long time (2011) since we last went to Toulon to the Stade Mayol to take on that special atmosphere.”
