France is a team that is the exact definition of unpredictability. 2014 was a year of such extremes that trying to predict what will happen in 2015 seems futile.
Les Bleus in last year’s Six Nations presented a mix of luck and mishaps. In their opener they managed to win in the dying stages with a Gael Fickou try after their first two tries in the first half came about solely from good fortune.
Defeating England in Paris brought hopes maybe France could kick on and finally show some consistency under head coach Philippe Saint Andre.
However, that wouldn’t prove the case, as at times they were laughable. Defeat to Wales in Cardiff and in their final game against Ireland in Paris compounded Saint Andre’s worries and rumours swirled in France’s sport columns.
Even in their victories they looked unconvincing – they rallied against Italy after a drab first half in Paris but how they beat Scotland at Murrayfield I will never know.
In addition, their summer was a shambles as they lost three games on the bounce with the Wallabies. French teams rarely do well on the road – whether domestically among the Top 14 clubs or at international level – but their performances in the first Test in Brisbane and third in Sydney were diabolical.
The autumn internationals summed up France to a tee – purposeful against Fiji and also Australia – and it seemed France turned a corner. Then came Argentina, a team who France historically do not like facing. History seemed to repeat itself as Argentina were victorious at the Stade de France even though the Pumas were without a litany of first team players.
However, Saint Andre has to show progress in the Six Nations, especially with the World Cup nearing. One thing to benefit Les Bleus is there is no left-field picks in Saint Andre’s 23-man squad for their opener against France next Saturday.
Within the halfbacks there is a strong pairing with Castres’ Rory Kockott, experienced Clermont Auvergne scrum half Morgan Parra returning along with fellow teammate fly half Camille Lopez and Castres’ Remi Tales. Moreover, Saint Andre can call upon Toulon’s 29-year-old scrum half Sebastian Tillous-Borde if needed, who has performed well domestically.
In addition, there is a new exciting star among the backs in the form of Racing Metro’s young winger Teddy Thomas, who has become France’s latest big star. Moreover, Thomas’ club teammate Alexandre Dumoulin has impressed at centre, at times relegating Jamie Roberts to the bench. However, there have been a few controversies in Saint Andre’s selections, particularly in picking foreign-born players.
Scott Spedding, Kockott (both South African born) and Samoan Uini Atonio were picked in the preliminary squad. Of those three, two are likely to start, but the fact they’ve been selected has raised eyebrows in France.
Spedding and Antonio have earned their place in the squad with good performances in the Top 14, and Spedding will likely start at 15 after Brice Dulin’s injury. However, Kockott has endured a tough season so far, as Castres battled to avoid relegation from the Top 14 to the Pro D2. But Saint Andre has staunchly defended his selections, showing great belief in Kockott.
Whether that faith will be rewarded in the Six Nations remains to be seen.
Player to watch: Teddy Thomas
Since moving to Racing Metro after Biarritz’s relegation from the Top 14 last season Thomas has gone from strength to strength. Thomas scored a try on his league debut for Racing Metro and at previous Junior World Championships he was one of France’s star attractions.
The winger showed in the autumn internationals how far he has come since making the move to Paris. With tricky footwork and searing pace, his try against the Wallabies elevated his stature on the world stage. The week before he scored a hat-trick on his international debut against Fiji.
If he can cut out the small bouts of ill discipline – where he was dropped for their defeat to Argentina in November for arriving at training two hours late – then he could cement himself in France’s World Cup squad.
With the possible exception of Gael Fickou, Thomas is arguably France’s best attacking prodigy since Wesley Fofana.
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