RWC 2019 – The Competitors – France

In many past World Cups, France has been a great enigma. The elimination of New Zealand at the hands of Les Bleus in RWCs 1999, and 2007 continue as main features on the highlight reel of World Rugby videos promoting the sport.

Among other things that prior World Cups demonstrate is that France has an ability to upset the odds, even when they are highly vulnerable. Such an example came in 2011 when France recovered from losing to Tonga in their pool to then eliminating both England and Wales in the play-offs.

Could France repeat past achievements and come good in Japan? Unlikely. The signs are that the current generation of players is not to the same level to that of prior teams. This hypothesis can be analyzed by comparing the 2019 and 2011 players and considering how many from each would make a composite side.

Already in 2019 players have pointed the finger at Head Coach Jacques Brunel, and there have been rumors of a change in captaincy months out from the tournament. These are gravely concerning times for France, a team to have played in three World Cup Finals.

 

WORLD CUP HISTORY

RWC	FINAL PLACING	RESULTS
1987	Finalists	Won vs Australia, Fiji, Romania, Zimbabwe Draw vs Scotland Lost vs New Zealand
1991	Quarter Finalists	Won vs Canada, Fiji, Romania Lost vs England
1995	Semi Finalists	Won vs Côte d’Ivoire, England, Ireland, Scotland, Tonga Lost vs South Africa
1999	Finalists	Won vs Argentina, Canada, Fiji, Namibia, New Zealand Lost vs Australia
2003	Semi Finalists	Won vs Fiji, Ireland, Japan, Scotland, USA Lost vs England, New Zealand
2007	Semi Finalists	Won vs Georgia, Ireland, Namibia, New Zealand Lost vs Argentina (x2), England
2011	Finalists	Won vs Canada, England, Japan, Wales Lost vs New Zealand (x2), Tonga
2015	Quarter Finalists	Won vs Canada, Italy, Romania Lost vs Ireland, New Zealand

Overall Record: Played 48, Won 33, Drawn 1, Lost 14

 

RWC 2019 SCHEDULE

France’s scheduling for RWC 2019 is unbalanced. It sees Les Bleus opening with a pivotal match against Argentina on day two of the tournament in Tokyo. Needless to say the strongest French line-up will take to the field against Los Pumas.

For games two and three, France will be playing on the southern island of Kyushu. A trip of over 1,000 km will see them traveling from the capital to Fukuoka to face the USA in their second match. Player rotation is inevitable for either this game or the third fixture which will be against Tonga in nearby Kumamoto.

Just three rest days separate their second and third fixtures. This is the absolute minimum utilized by World Rugby at the tournament. As complicated as it certainly is, it is friendlier overall than that in which other teams will endure in the same group.

France will close out the pool stage against England in Yokohama. A second trip of over 1,000 km will be required but this time Les Bleus will not have the luxury of an extended preparation time between matches. With Le Crunch falling six days after the fixture against Tonga it is probable that France’s reserve players will predominantly feature in the team against the Ikale Tahi in Kumamoto.

DATE	OPPONENT	VENUE
Sat, Sept 21	Argentina	Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo
Wed, Oct 2	USA	Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka
Sun, Oct 6	Tonga	Kumamoto Stadium, Kumamoto
Sat, Oct 12	England	International Stadium, Yokohama

 

PREDICTED TRAVELING 31

Forwards: Cyril Baille (Toulouse), Demba Bamba (Lyon), Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux), Dany Priso (La Rochelle), Rabah Slimani (Clermont), Camille Chat (Racing 92), Guilhem Guirado (Montpellier), Pierre Bourgarit (La Rochelle), Arthur Iturria (Clermont), Paul Gabrillagues (Stade Français), Félix Lambey (Lyon), Sébastien Vahaamahina (Clermont), Gregory Alldritt (La Rochelle), Yacouba Camara (Montpellier), Wenceslas Lauret (Racing 92), Louis Picamoles (Montpellier), Fabien Sanconnie (Racing 92)

Backs: Baptiste Couilloud (Lyon), Antoine Dupont (Toulouse), Baptiste Serin (Toulon), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux), Romain Ntamack (Toulouse), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Gaël Fickou (Stade Français), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Sofiane Guitoune (Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Damian Penaud (Clermont), Teddy Thomas (Racing 92), Maxime Médard (Toulouse), Thomas Ramos (Toulouse)

 

PROJECTED MATCH-DAY LINEUP

1 Cyril Baille, 2 Guilhem Guirado (capt.), 3 Demba Bamba, 4 Félix Lambey, 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 7 Yacouba Camara, 8 Louis Picamoles, 9 Antoine Dupont, 10 Romain Ntamack, 11 Damian Penaud, 12 Gaël Fickou, 13 Sofiane Guitoune, 14 Teddy Thomas, 15 Maxime Médard

Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Dany Priso, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Arthur Iturria, 20 Gregory Alldritt, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Matthieu Jalibert, 23 Wesley Fofana

Key Back: Teddy Thomas
Key Forward: Guilhem Guirado
Talisman: Antoine Dupont

 

RWC 2019 PREVIEW

RWC 2015 was officially the worst tournament for France. It joined RWC 1991 in seeing France failing to make it beyond the Quarter Finals. Yet while France fell 19-10 against England in 1991 their defeat against New Zealand in 2015 was vastly different. The 62-13 loss is the largest ever margin in a World Cup knock-out match.

Head Coach Philippe Saint-André was replaced by Guy Noves in 2016. Noves would record wins over Argentina, Ireland, Italy, and Samoa in his first year though would lose 6 of the 10 test matches. In 2017 it would deteriorate with Noves’ France falling short of expectations. Wins came against Italy, Scotland, and Wales though no other wins would come all year. The 23-all home draw against Japan saw Noves replaced by former Italian Head Coach Jacques Brunel.

The Brunel regime was charged with getting France back on track and preparing a team to win the World Cup. Unfortunately for France, results have not provided a viable argument to suggest that Les Bleus are in better shape. In 2018 Brunel’s team had 2 wins and 9 losses from their 11 tests. This included a home defeat against Fiji in Paris. The 2019 Six Nations saw wins over Italy and Scotland, and losses against England, Ireland, and Wales.

Form, results, and inconsistent selections do not combine well for Les Bleus in the Pool of Death. France’s projected results from Pool C are wins against Tonga and the USA, but losses against Argentina and England. This would see France eliminated in the pool phase for the first time in World Cup history.

 

Week 1 – Italy
Week 2 – Fiji
Week 3 – Japan
Week 4 – England
Week 5 – Namibia
Week 6 – Wales
Week 7 – Samoa
Week 8 – France
Week 9 – South Africa