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
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
80 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments