The 23-year-old was criticised after Les Bleus 20-16 defeat to Scotland in their RBS 6 Nations opener and, despite an improved performance in the first half of the 43-31 victory over Ireland, he produced a series of errors during Frances second-half collapse and was replaced by Benjamin Boyet in the 67th minute.

France coach Bernard Laporte and manager Jo Maso jumped to the defence of the talented Toulouse star and condemned the publics criticism but Michalak understood the crowds point of view.

He said: It is normal that the public boos me if I make mistakes.

I am in a key position within the team and at that level of competition you cannot miss out on little details, he said.

My performance was like the teams, in a way. I did well in the first half and then I struggled. We all did and we showed a great lack of precision.

Of course I was affected by the booing, he added. I felt I did not know what I was doing there and that I was not doing any good.

But the most important thing for me at the end of the day is that my parents are proud of me.

Laporte backed his young protege and pledged to keep him in the side, saying: Fred alternated with good and bad rugby.

But I am satisfied with his performance. Unlike the public I am going to back him up and support him.

I want the public to know that Fred will play again and that their attitude will not make me change my mind.

Meanwhile, France captain Fabien Pelous lamented his sides fatigue, which he felt was a key factor in Irelands second half fightback, but also reflected on a positive result.

We perhaps used all our energy in the first half, he said. Thats why we failed to find enough resources in the second.

We have to look into that problem. We should not have missed out on the last 30 minutes that way.

We let the Irish come back into the match and score four tries in a short amount of time, he added, before playing down suggestions that complacency crept into the French game with the score at 43-3.

Not at all, he said. The reason is that we could not go forward physically whereas the Irish managed to maintain their level of play.

But things were not all negative for us, as we bounced back from our loss to Scotland and won the match.

France face a two-week break before they resume RBS 6 Nations action on February 25 against Italy at the Stade de France.