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Eight years after what happened at RWC 2011, English and Welsh fans are wary of yet another France team in disarray
According to various reports, the France rugby team are suffering an internal crisis with a divide between the players and the coaches. This seems to be one the most reliable features of any Rugby World Cup and while this would usually signal pandemonium for any other team, rival fans feel this may work in France’s favour.
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There are reports that team captain Guilhem Guirado has fallen out with the coaching staff and has subsequently been dropped as captain. He has lost faith in the coaches, Jacques Brunel and Fabien Galthie, and now has been replaced by Camille Chat, who started against the USA and Tonga and is set to start against England this Saturday. The players have sided with Guirado, creating a rift in the squad.
While this would be bad enough for any team, Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has also spoken out in the past few days, urging the players to revolt against the management and take control themselves. Fans on social media have been quick to point out that it was only a matter of time before this happened to the France squad. Having said that, they are also aware of how dangerous the team can be in these situations.
After losses to the All Blacks and Tonga in the pool stages of the 2011 RWC, the France squad led a similar mutiny against Marc Lievremont and went on to reach the final, losing to the All Blacks by a solitary point. While this team in 2019 have not lost a game so far this RWC, they are underperforming. Barring a barnstorming opening 40 minutes against Argentina, they have looked flat and rudderless. They are arguably worse than the team in 2011, despite having as much if not more talent.
This RWC is just a microcosm of the past two years under Brunel, as France have stagnated and struggled to progress. Compared to Lievremont’s four years in charge, where he won a Grand Slam in 2010, it is undoubtedly worse.
(Continue reading below…)
Therefore, a rebellion this year could liberate the team and prompt a change in fortunes comparable to 2011, something that fans all over the world are wary of. English and Welsh fans are particularly cautious, with Eddie Jones’ side set to face France this Saturday in their final game of the pool stages and Warren Gatland’s side likely to meet them in the quarter-finals.
Both England and Wales fell to France in their uprising in 2011, losing in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively, and they will be all too aware of the threat that a similarly unleashed France now pose. This is what has been said:
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Mutinous France are the most dangerous France. Watch them beat England and knock NZ out in the semi.
— Ifan Morgan Jones (@ifanmj) October 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/joebolton/status/1181179223928688642?s=20
French camp is a complete mess yet again during the World Cup.
Players fighting amongst each other and the captain not on talking terms with some coaches.
Too much wine, too much whining and not enough showbiz.
In other words,
Expect France to go on to win the Rugby World Cup https://t.co/OtsfIsDfUQ
— Richie Allen (@Richie_Allen) October 7, 2019
France rugby team in disarray! Captain ousted, players told to overthrow coaches. What a mess! But when they are like this, they are at their best. What a dangerous time to play them. France for the final? #RWC2019
— Tiredcommuter (@CEducrisis) October 8, 2019
Lmao ooh they are definitely winning against England after this https://t.co/TkHzxdVyjm
— FROST (@Luigi_SQ) October 8, 2019
This is the classic situation in which French rugby becomes unplayable and unstoppable.
— Adrian Perry (@montyman42) October 7, 2019
While it would usually be absurd to suggest that chaos to this extent could favour a team, it seems to be part of the French DNA and only lends itself to their fabled Gallic flair.
In truth, this may be the type of thing that the France team need, as they simply have not been a force on the world stage over the past four years.
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Meanwhile, English, Welsh and fans from every other country will hope that their teams have learnt lessons from the past when it comes to underestimating a French team in disarray.
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Comments on RugbyPass
1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to comments