‘Important’ Michalak advice 16 years after France flunked home RWC
Former France out-half Freddy Michalak has given his verdict on what Les Bleus must do to win the 2023 Rugby World Cup, unlike what happened when they previously hosted the tournament in 2007.
The 40-year-old was capped 77 times by the French in a stellar career that included participation at three finals, including 16 years ago.
Bernard Laporte’s France had an eventful experience, losing their opening match to Argentina, defeating the All Blacks in the quarter-finals before getting beaten by England in the semi-finals and ultimately finishing fourth.
The French team now ready to play at the latest finals under Fabien Galthie come into the tournament, which begins with the September 8 clash versus the All Blacks in Paris, with an even far greater expectation about them to do well and lift the trophy.
Michalak, who started three matches in 2007 and came off the bench in three more, has now shared his thoughts on that increased level of optimism, telling Paris Vous Aime magazine: “Some of the people in coach Fabien Galthie’s staff were already there in 2007 when France were defeated by Argentina at the beginning of the tournament.
“They know exactly how to place players in the best possible conditions. The important thing is to take advantage of being there and not to isolate yourself psychologically from the event. I have full confidence in the French team who are ranked among the favourites along with South Africa, New Zealand and France.”
Now working in Paris as part of Stuart Lancaster’s new management team at Racing, Michalak expressed his enthusiasm for rugby amongst the French public.
“Paris has a long tradition,” he explained. “Take the history of five-time French champions Racing, founded in 1882. Stade Francais, who were our nemesis team when I played for Toulouse, also have a great history. Along with these two giants, there are other clubs, like Massy and PUC. Ile-de-France has a great pool of regionalised players.
“It was in Paris that ushered in a new era when players started playing professionally thanks to the brilliant communication and marketing campaigns by Max Guzzani, former president of Stade Francais.
“He created a lot of buzz with his calendars of buff rugby players, pink rugby jerseys and matches played at Stade de France. He changed rugby’s image which helped it become a popular spectator sport in its own right.
“To have Paris hosting this prestigious event is very important for French rugby, and a boon for the country’s economy. I’m delighted to promote the event and participate in projects like Campus 20234 which creates training programmes for apprentices and trains future major talents in the sports ecosystem.”
Michalak added that he hoped France 2023 would accelerate the popularity of rugby worldwide. “For the sport to grow, it must branch into new territories. For example, when rugby sevens became an Olympic sport it did a lot to popularise rugby in other countries like Kenya, Uganda, the United States, Spain, Uruguay and Hong Kong.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Great work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe 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?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 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!
5 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 …
35 Go to comments