France failing the virtues of Rugby Union

Marc Lievermont, in the build up to last night’s match against Argentina, spoke of abandoning the ridiculed selection policy he adopted during his first twelve of months in charge of Les Blues, and also to start playing the style of rugby that fans across the globe have become accustomed to from the French.

The transition from the awful bile we witnessed during the Six Nations must have been easy for Lievermont. For starters, many of his players were raised playing heads up rugby; the majority of French clubs still use such a policy; and Emile N’Tamack is backs coach of the national side. N’Tamack is a legend at Toulouse, a club that has never turned its back of positive rugby, and a man who has tormented many Irish defenders throughout an illustrious international career.

 

As it transpired, Lievermont went back on his word with regards to one of those statements he promised in the first paragraph. The fact that Maxime Mairddd was the only new cap indicates that perhaps the selection policy has been simplified. As for the attacking rugby? Well, we saw none of that during the 12-6 win in Marseilles.

 

The second period was a classic example of this. It wasn’t until the sixty-ninth minute that France spread the ball beyond the inside centre for the just the second time. On both of those occasions in the second half, France tried to rely on a simple skip pass in the centres to break open the excellent Argentinean defence. By the time the ball reached Cedric Heymans or Julien Malzieu, the wingers were already shackled.

 

What transpired next was further evidence that not all of the new ELVs are worth persisting with. France kicked the ball away and hoped for a mistake from full back Bernardo Stortoni. Frequently this did happen, but it now seems sides like France are using the new laws to force errors from their opponents by kicking the leather of the ball, instead of backing themselves with ball in hand as they once did.

 

Towards the end of the game, the French fans passed the time, and boredom, by initiating an impressive Mexican wave. Such a spectacle is often associated with a crowd looking for some sort of entertainment. This seemed to inspire the French players, and a frenetic finish at last guaranteed some excitement on the pitch. They spread the ball quickly, ran from deep, and attacked close to the rucks, and out wide. There was renewed vigour in their play, and it was a miracle that a clearly shocked Argentinean side managed to keep their line in tact.

 

The relief on their faces told a story of how delighted a side were to win after a run of ugly defeats against the same opposition. They say France never lose in the Stade Veledrome, except against Argentina, and that Los Pumas embarrassed them twice in the world cup must have been haunting the home side in the build up to the game.

 

Losing the prolific Vincent Clerc and Aurelin Rougerie was no excuse, as the back line contained five members of the swash buckling Toulouse outfit. The two remaining were Clermont Auverign’s Benoit Baby (a product of the Toulouse Academy) and Julien Malzieu. The transition for the Toulouse players from the free reign of Guy Noves to the straight jacket approach of Lievermont must be extremely difficult.

 

Yannick Jauzion, one of the world’s finest centres, and inspired for Toulouse this season, was apparently playing last night. Too often the ball reached David Skrela, at out-half, and he executed what was evidentially in the coaching manual. Kick it high; kick it long; kick it away. This then transpired into a bout of aerial ping-pong, and a rash of ridiculously attempted drop goals from half way. The crowd had every right to boo, as none of these were successful.

 

Australia are up next for France, and as this is their end-of-season, and rattled after near escape against Italy, they will hardly offer too much more than Argentina. It’s imperative Lievermont abandons this playing style that is so alien to French players, and allows them to stick to the virtues of the game, or interest in this great sport will diminish greatly in a powerhouse of rugby union.

 

Further evidence of a game riddled with kicks, and lacking any fluidity, can be found at planetrugby.com: http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3551_4473782,00.html