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As much as it pains me to confess, it’s my opinion that France has slipped out of contention as a real threat in September’s rugby World Cup.
I say this as somebody who grew up in France and spent a long time there watching various iterations of les Bleus. I say it as an Aussie resident who’s seen a lot of southern hemisphere rugby. And I say it after checking with many of my rugby-watching friends in France who are of the same opinion.
The team’s problem is their coach, Marc Lievremont, and selector Bernard Laporte. Jaws dropped all over France when Lievremont announced that Sebastien Chabal would play at No. 8 against England.
He has one of the best eights in the world in Imanol Harinordoquy, but he thought that what didn’t work against the Wallabies would work against England.
He thought that the French pack could hammer the English pack as the Boks did. But apart from an excellent front row, and Imanol, who’s a great lineout jumper, ball carrier and defender, in fact the best player les Tricolores have, team France’s forwards aren’t that special. Not this year.
It used to be that Thierry Dusautoir would tirelessly tackle anything that moved, and he still does but to a lesser extent. In the second row, neither Nallet, Pierre or Thion scare anybody. And Julien Bonnaire, who’ll be 33 in September, has lost a step or two.
Back to Chabal. He’s immensely popular, the craggy face of French rugby, but he shouldn’t have a spot in the run on 15. He’s an ideal bench player to come on in the last twenty minutes as a second row replacement and do some damage. But his charges were easily absorbed by the English as they were by the Wallabies, and he had little affect on Saturday.
But I don’t want to place all the blame for the loss on the forwards. The fact is, the French backs are not up to snuff. Parra/Yachvili and Trinh-Duc are a good enough combo although Trinh-Duc’s attempted drop goal with Haskell right in his face is symptomatic of indecisiveness if not panic.
But he did put through a perfect grubber which Rougerie fumbled in his dive. Poitreneau passed the ball into touch, Clerc and Huget tried hard, Traille did his best, but the net result is a backline that’s lacking punch and penetration.
Can France find new blood to restore them to being World Cup contenders? I believe it’s too late for that. I think Lievremont will continue to tinker with the same 22 he has now, and it won’t be enough to slay any giants in NZ in September.
They’ll be beaten if they come up against England, which has developed a very rugged defence, and they won’t be able to stay with the Wallabies, the All Blacks or the Boks.
Indeed, I would relegate France to the status of dangerous floaters along with Ireland and the Pumas.
Quel damage.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.