Can France Finally Achieve Their Potential?

David Rogers/Getty Images

Of all the European sides, perhaps with the exception of reigning Six Nations champions Ireland, Les Bleus have the most reason to be confident coming into their autumn internationals but will need to make a statement coming into a crucial build up to a World Cup tilt.

France is the best team not to have won a World Championship, especially considering that they have won six Six Nations titles in the last 13 years, four of them Grand Slams.  Add to this their actual World Cup record of two runners up positions, one third place and two fourth places, and really the FFR should be targeting a serious challenge to the Springboks title in two years time.

But more importantly, they have conquered the biggest road test that any nation must overcome in order to give a barometer of their 2011 potential.

Beat the All Blacks in New Zealand, which, outside of winning a World Cup, is the most difficult achievement statistically in world rugby.

While it was in theory a drawn series, and the All Blacks were not at full strength, the win (only New Zealand’s sixth loss since 2000 at home) was their most comprehensive loss since the Springboks defeated the All Blacks 13-3 in 1998.  A game where there was no early New Zealand dominance, and no characteristic All Black fight back.

However, somewhat paradoxically, it was a match that raised even more questions of what Marc Lievremont is trying to achieve with his Tri colours.

While it was the best win in his two year, 18-match reign, it was the third time that the French had dramatically altered their approach on the field.

A key complaint during the era of Bernard Laporte was that he gradually shifted focus away from the traditional French flair that was a hallmark of their great sides.  While the former Stade Francais coach had a great record, notching 62 wins and four Six Nations titles, some felt that the pragmatism that was evident in the team inhibited what could have been even greater success.

Some felt that with the players that Les Bleus had/have, that their success should have been greater.  France was a notoriously bad traveller under Laporte, winning only two from 15 in Southern Hemisphere tours, and—the stunning upset of the All Blacks in 2007 aside—they never fulfilled their potential at World Cup tournaments.

But while Lievremont was quoted to want to shift away from the conservative approach of his predecessor, France have never consistently been able to play with the same Gallic brilliance that has been a hallmark of the greatest Les Bleus sides.

Lievremont is an unashamed admirer of this running and attacking style.

More often than not though, the blend of tactics has been deficient.  Either they have shown far too much yearning to throw the ball around, or played it so tight and one dimensional that the desired offensive game has never eventuated.

While this could be the case, it could also be the fact that France is currently coping with the dual rise of Ireland and Wales as rugby powers.

For years, the only consistent challenger to French domination in the north were the English, but as France is confronted by the surge of the Celtic sides, worse for Lievremont, he still has not guided his side to a win against their old foes across the channel.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?