There are few teams in world sport more polarising than the French Rugby team – their players tend to ooze raw talent however through either complacency of poor organisation or a touch of both, you end up loving them and hating them at the same time – that is, unless there is a World Cup at stake…
Philippe Saint-Andre has just announced his 2015 Rugby World Cup training squad and he has predictably, been unpredictable. Camille Lopez who, it seemed, was the only reasonably consistent performer during France’s doomed 2015 6 Nations campaign has been left behind in favour of players who haven’t played for France in almost a year and are currently injured.
Experienced out half Freddie Michalak’s last performance for Les Bleus culminated in a shellacking on Australian soil yet he again finds himself in poll position to pinch a pivotal role in what will be his third world cup (missing 2011 but playing in 2003 and 2007). Take into account that he’s missing the end of of the Top 14 because of injury and it’s an extraordinary risk to take.
After a season of disappointment for French rugby to date – especially after a Toulon squad packed full of foreign players won the European Champions Cup and look good to claim the Top 14 title – Saint-Andre could have looked to build further on the plans laid back in March from the likes of Camille Lopez and co but has instead opted to wipe the sale clean with the old and dress them as the new.
As it stands, France will be heading to the World Cup without Camille Lopez, Teddy Thomas, Maxime Mermoz, Maxime Machenaud, Jocelino Suta, Romain Taofifenua and Jules Plisson, players who all seemed to signal a new era for France… They might not have come anywhere in the 6 Nations this year but they showed a good type of rugby in their last hit-out against England.
Unfortunately, as an onlooker and yes I don’t claim to know the inner workings of the FFR, it’s tough to see Saint-Andre’s squad as any determined thrust for the World Cup but a mere attempt to seek what they once had – outstanding in parts yet terribly mediocre in others.
The likes of Morgan Parra and Francois Trinh Duc have found their way back into the squad and while they were instrumental in almost knocking over the All Blacks in the World Cup Final almost four years ago, they are four years older and at the end of the day, had played arguably two maybe three decent games over the whole of the 2011 World Cup.
For the past five years, it has been all too easy to sweep the problems of the FFR under big pay cheques bound for overseas players but the national team is an environment that guidance must be given and a vision forged. It has however been replaced by further indecision and doubt.
From what he presents in the media, Philippe Saint-Andre does not lack a vision nor the nous or the determination to instil one such vision in his players – but his lack of clarity in where the team is going and a severe lack of professional leadership leaves his team floating in a sea of uncertainty.
What seems clear at this stage is that whatever the result at this year’s Rugby World Cup, Saint-Andre will unlikely be at the helm heading into 2016. However coming from a fan of French rugby and the flare they often bring, I fear the change in coach will be come far too late.