Can France Finally Achieve Their Potential?

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.

For many French, their ultimate barometer of success is beating the English.

But as seen against the All Blacks in New Zealand, the French showed how successful they can be when they keep their game simple.  They have, under both Laporte and Lievremont, had very capable forward units. 

Without overusing the time honoured maxim that a game “must be won up front,” perhaps the key to French glory could be the focus on their forwards laying the brutal platform shown in New Zealand, and then letting their exquisite back division surgical incise only when required, and not continuously.

While Lievremont is searching for the heady amalgamation of the two styles, much will depend on his selection policies.

France’s Senegal born coach has earned a reputation for modifying his squad, but in his most recent selection, has largely stayed loyal to the players that performed adequately for him during this year’s Six Nations.

He has not lost his penchant for calling up young talent, with three debutants named in his squad in forward’s Antoine Burban and Alexandre Lapandry and back Benjamin Fall.

Burban has been in solid form for Stade Francais, and the 106kg runner also has the ability to play in the backline.  Lapandry is based with Clermont and a product of the French rugby system, while Fall has been leading the Top 14 try scorer’s table for much of 2009.

The squad also features recalls for former test captain Lionel Nallet, No. 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, scrumhalf Morgan Parra and centre David Marty.  All four are outstanding players and on paper this is Lievremont’s strongest ever squad.

Still, looking throughout the team there is one glaring problem.

A brilliant collection of forwards, with experienced front rowers, great athletes in the second row, and as good a collection of loose forwards any nation could wish to have.  In the backs, they have good players at the base, a verifiable squadron of dreadnought class midfielders, and some of the most dangerous three quarters in world rugby.

But aside from the recalled Frederic Michalak, no overwhelming contender for No. 10. 

Much of France’s potency and flair in the past has come from having a magician and creator in the playmaking position; and the one consistent in the last decade has been the absence of a consistently selected and dominant first five.

Lievremont has the players, and if he can settle on their strategy, they will make an impression moving forward.  But much will rest on the shoulders of the ostentatious Toulouse and former Sharks playmaker, and he or another number ten must hold the key to finally unlocking the French flair.

Marc Lievremont’s record as French coach

Played 18, Won 9, Lost 9

Results in Six Nations

2009, 3rd (WON Sco, Ire, Ita LOST Eng, Wal)

2008, 3rd (WON Sco, Wal, Ita LOST Ire, Eng)

Last match: 27th June 2009, Australia 22 – 6 France @ Sydney

France squad for autumn internationals

Forwards:  Fabien Barcella (Biarritz), Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Francais), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Luc Ducalcon (Castres), William Servat (Toulouse), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Francais), Sebastien Chabal (Racing-Metro), Romain Millo-Chlusky (Toulouse), Lionel Nallet (Racing-Metro), Pascal Pape (Stade Francais), Antoine Burban (Stade Francais), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Alexandre Lapandry (Clermont), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse).

Backs:  Julien Dupuy (Stade Francais), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), David Marty (Perpignan), Yannick Jauzion (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan), Maxime Medard (Toulouse), Cedric Heymans (Toulouse), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Benjamin Fall (Bayonne), Yann David (Toulouse), Frederic Michalak (Toulouse), Damien Traille (Biarritz).

Last French test XV (V Australia)

France: Traille; Medard, Fritz, Mermoz, Heymans; Beauxis, Yachvili; Barcella, Szarzewski, Marconnet, Pape, Millo-Chluski, Dusautoir, Ouedraogo, Puricelli. Replacements: Arias, Guirado, Mas, Martin, Dupuy, Chouly, Clerc.