The revealing truth about the next French squad
On October 23, France coach Guy Noves will name his squad for November’s internationals against New Zealand, South Africa and Japan. At that point, who has the upper hand in an ongoing personal power struggle between Noves and his boss, FFR President Bernard Laporte, will be clear.
Laporte, who has troubles of his own away from the fortunes of the national side, called the coaches of the senior national men’s side to a meeting on Monday, where he demanded a shift in selection policy, Le Figaro reports.
Nevermind that Noves now has an elite player list of 45, who have all been working on personalised fitness and training plans. Laporte wants changes. He wants fresh French faces. He wants to see a new, youthful France, galloping freely across the Stade de France, Stade de Gerland and U Arena. He wants them blissfully unencumbered by French failures of the recent past and ignorant of what they cannot, should not, be able to do.
He wants them to do that rugby voodoo that they do so well in club colours.
Of course, Noves does not have to pick his November series squad solely from his list of elite players – a list that already includes young guns Antoine Dupont, Baptiste Serin, Damian Penaud and Romain N’Tamack.
He is open to select players not in the elite 45. And Laporte has in mind the likes of Toulouse fullback Thomas Ramos, La Rochelle’s Gabriel Lacroix, Stade Francais’ Paul Gabrillagues, Lyon’s Thibaut Regard and Baptiste Couilloud, and Bordeaux’s Yann Lesgourgues.
Read more: 9 coaches who could take on France job if it all goes bad for Noves
There is logic in Laporte’s youth policy. The 20-year-old Dupont single-handedly destroyed 28-year-old Morgan Parra’s international ambitions when Toulouse entertained Clermont in the seventh round of the Top 14. Penaud has been a shining light for the defending champions, who have struggled this season. Couilloud seems incapable of doing wrong as the pivot of a high-flying Lyon. The elusive and lightning-fast 5ft 7in, 80kg Lacroix plays as if he is 8in taller, 20kg heavier, and twice as quick.
As Laporte said: “I want to see young players. I see good ones [in action] every weekend. They have to play at the highest level … We have two years to prepare for the World Cup in Japan.
“I do not want to impose anything on Guy. But we can talk, right? He’s lucky to have a president who has been a coach like him. I will tell him what I think of some selections… ”
Laporte has previously stated he wants France to win three of their four matches next month. But he seems willing to soften his hardline stance – which would call for a victory over New Zealand – if Noves goes young with his selections.
“It will depend on the context, and with the players we go with,” Laporte said. “If it’s a promising team, no problem. But if it’s the same players we used in South Africa, when we had three disastrous matches, then I’ll be worried.
“There are young promising players, a lot of talent that deserves to be teamed up, in France. If we do not change, we will go straight into the wall …”
Noves will gain nothing but plaudits if he names a young side for the four-match series in November. It would be a win-win, given French rugby’s years of failure.
There is, as Laporte says, a surfeit of young talent in French rugby. They can be exciting and frustrating in equal measure. They can be as mercurial as a stadium full of Freddie Michalaks. They can be … French.
But there’s another name on Laporte’s list. He’s not in Noves’ elite 45. He’s not young. And he already has 39 caps to his name. He’s Mathieu Bastareaud.
Laporte wants to see him back in French Bleu. So, if you see his name in Noves’ squad on October 23, you know who’s in charge at Marcoussis.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments