“Rugby World Cup’s $460 French farce,” exclaimed the broadsheet New Zealand Herald newspaper earlier this week upon hearing the news of Les Bleus’ controversial selection policy for their Pool A showdown with the All Blacks tomorrow morning.
Marc Lievremont, who will leave his post as French coach at the end of this tournament, has frequently courted criticism from the domestic media for the bizarre, inconsistent teams he selects, as well as his questionable man-management style. After a 22-21 defeat in Italy in the Six Nations Championship earlier this year, for example, he criticised his players for having betrayed the national shirt: “They are cursed with cowardice.”
For tomorrow’s fixture at Eden Park he has, according to the New Zealand press, plumbed new depths, disrespecting the tournament by aiming to lose deliberately in order to avoid the half of the draw containing Australia and South Africa (not to mention their World Cup nemesis, Argentina, should they beat Scotland on Sunday). A loss to the All Blacks would instead see the French competing with likely quarterfinalists England, Ireland and Wales for a place in the final.
The most obviously bizarre choice was Morgan Parra, who has been selected at outside-half despite plying his trade at scrum-half. His kicking – particularly from the tee –rivals that of most number tens, but the extent to which he can control the game, a vital skill for a fly-half to have, is certainly open for debate. In addition, Damien Traille, more accustomed to playing in the centre, is picked at full-back.
Predictably, France has reacted angrily to suggestions that they are seeking to lose deliberately; (tomorrow’s) scrum-half Dmitri Yachvili responded to the allegations with Andre Villas-Boasesque levels of sarcasm. Surely not even a coach as eccentric as is Lievremont would attempt to sabotage his own team in the manner that he has been accused of doing. A side of France’s talent will aim to get as far as the final – and that can hardly be squared with the apparent attempt to scoot in by the back door. France are good enough to beat either Australia and South Africa (and they know it), and if they beat the All Blacks in the pool stage, what is to say that they cannot repeat the feat in the semifinal?
After all the fuss, it would be typical of the French to go and beat the All Blacks, even in spite of all the huffing and puffing that Les Bleus had to go through in order to see off Japan and Canada in their previous matches in the pool. Or perhaps that should say that it would be typical of the All Blacks to lose to the French.
After all, New Zealand have always struggled against France in World Cups. In 1999 (semifinal) and 2007 (quarterfinal), the All Blacks, heavy favourites on both occasions, were upset by French upstarts. That considered – as well as the extra motivation that the New Zealand Herald and fellow media outlets will provide for France – the All Blacks and their fans would do well not to complain too much about the line-up their team will face.
Because, despite the strength of New Zealand’s own team, it is not too difficult to envisage a third successive Gallic World Cup victory over the perennial favourites.
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