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France in disarray as players suggest taking matters into their own hands
By Online Editors
France's dismal Six Nations campaign is set to go from bad to worse as the playing squad prepares to revolt against its coaching staff.
Les Bleus suffered their worst defeat in 108 years to long-time rivals England on Saturday when they were thumped 44-8 at Twickenham, just a week after their capitulation against Wales in Paris.
The home side were up 16-0 in that clash, before a calamity of errors both on and off the field saw them succumb to a 24-19 loss at the Stade de France.
Lock Sebastian Vahamaahina, who threw an intercept pass from halfway that allowed George North to score what turned out to be the match-winning try in the 72nd minute, revealed he did know he was made team captain by coach Jacques Brunel following the substitution of regular skipper Guilhem Guirado, finding out only through referee Wayne Barnes.
The miscommunication throughout the squad portrayed in the French loss to Wales is one of many symptomatic tendencies that has seen France lose eight of their last nine matches, which has led to an all-time low ranking of 10th on the World Rugby rankings.
Veteran halfback Morgan Parra has since opened up to Midi Olympique of his team's disdain at the way in which they're being managed by Brunel and his associates.
"I think that we are capable of doing what the English do but are we working on this during training? I think we don't work on it enough, even not at all," he said in the wake of his side's pummelling in London.
"Yet these are very simple things that are today part of high-level rugby. We can do this. But do we work on it? No.
"Before the staff, it is first for us, the players, that the situation is hard to live and it is up to us to find solutions because today we are not invited [to give our opinions]," he added, hinting at the possibility of a player revolt as the squad looks to take matters into their own hands.
They would not be the first French squad to overthrow the coach and seize power of the team in recent history.
Former coach Marc Lievremont was pushed aside by his players following their 19-14 loss to Tonga in the pool stage of the 2011 World Cup.
It was that shift of power that managed to see France through to an unlikely World Cup final appearance against New Zealand at Eden Park, while there were similar whispers that emerged of mutiny against former coach Philippe Saint-Andre after his side crashed out of the 2015 World Cup following a quarter-final thrashing at the hands of the All Blacks.
France will look to resurrect their Six Nations campaign in just under two week's time when they host Scotland in Paris.
Jacques Brunel and Guilhem Guirado post-match conference:
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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