The French squad for New Zealand has just been announced, and the only surprise was the omission of Jauzion and Sebastien Chabal. Although he had little effect as a player in recent internationals we all thought the Caveman would be on the team for his personality and sponsor value alone, but it’s not to be.
The next big surprise would be if les tricolores were to do well against the All Blacks in their pool game, but few people in France think there’s much hope of that.
France looked pretty ordinary in the Six Nations and abyssmal against the Wallabies, and this year the old cliché “You never know which French team will turn up” is not going to wash, because we do know which team will turn up in New Zealand and, alas, it won’t be near good enough.
The All Blacks can’t wait to exact some revenge for past Rugby World Cup embarrassments at the hands of the Gauls, and they’ve got the team to do it. I expect them to run up three tries to none then coast for the rest of the game.
If England get past Argentina in Dunedin, will France beat them in the quarters? Perhaps. But if they do they’ll face the Springboks and it will be Bonne nuit, infirmier.
Here’s the squad. It’s doubtful that Rougerie will make it back from a bad injury, and Domingo has a chronic knee.
Hookers: William Servat (Toulouse), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français)
Props: Fabien Barcella (Biarritz), Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Toulouse), , Luc Ducalcon (Castres), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Sylvain Marconnet (Biarritz)
Locks: Pascal Papé (Stade Français), Julien Pierre (Clermont), Romain Millo-Chluski (Toulouse), Lionel Nallet (Racing-Métro 92)
Loose forwards: Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse/Cap), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Raphaël Lakafia (Biarritz), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)
Scrum-halves: Morgan Parra (Clermont), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz)
Fly-halves: David Skrela (Toulouse), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier)
Centres: Fabrice Estebanez (Brive), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan), David Marty (Perpignan), Aurélien Rougerie (Clermont)
Wings/full-backs: Maxime Médard (Toulouse), Alexis Palisson (Brive), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Bayonne), Cédric Heymans (Toulouse), Damien Traille (Biarritz)
Ben S
Roar Guru
Just watching Clermont v Biarritz, and what an appalling game it is. If Brock James stood any deeper he'd be back in Australia. All both teams are doing is going wide two or three passes and then coming straight back into the middle again. Terrible stuff. Parra is being typically petulant, which seems to have affected his game, Lakafia looks like he has potential but is just a kid, and very badly conditioned at that, but Bonnaire and Harinordoquy seem a cut above. Would like to see Clermont win. They're pretty clueless but Biarritz are pretty cynical.
Parisien
Guest
The forwards are good, if a little slow, and I'm glad Picamoles is back in, but apart from Mermoz, its the centres that don't cut it. Maybe Traille will get a run there as well! I'm sorry that Jauzion missed out even if his form has been indifferent. He has class and experience. Good to see Heymans back and he'll form a fine back three with Medard and Clerc. There are some really good players in this squad, what a shame Lievremont has messed with them for three years. There is a lack of depth in key positions: Yachvili is in decline and Skrela never had it. Good luck if there are injuries! Better hope that there are some secret plans to be unhatched at the Marcoussis training centre.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Is Lievremont able to shake this squad up? He has a history of playing (very lame) political/mind games with the press and with his selections. After all, he stated that Marconnet would not play for France again, and here we are, and he had also previously said that Jauzion was a shoo-in for the WC. Ultimately, the key problem is that we have no idea what the best French side is, apart from the front row and half-backs and that Dusautoir will be the captain. Personally I think this squad has some pedigree players, but also far too many journeymen and plodders, so as an England fan I have no concerns whatsoever.
Matt
Guest
So two from that group will need to be culled, to get down to the 30 man squad that is required. I'm assuming it'll be two of the props? It's interesting to note that only two Hookers and two Halfbacks have been selected. Do one of the props listed also cover Hooker? No.2 and No.9 both tend to be specialist positions and therefore a single injury leaves a squad (who have selected only 2) short of a reserve for their next match.