France: Running on empty

Tuesday 08th July 2008

Having just stepped off a plane from Australia, France backs coach Emile Ntamack learnt that the draw for the 2011 World Cup will take place on December 1, which is far "too early" for French liking according to the former international wing, as France find themselves in a tight spot.

Currently ranked just seventh in the world, France are faced with the strong possibility of not being allocated a place at the top of a World Cup group for the first time since the inception of the global tournament in 1987.

For the first time, in history Les Bleus are set to be placed in the same group as one of the southern hemisphere giants, New Zealand, South Africa or Australia. As the situation currently stands - the Springboks look like the most likely candidates.

France's lowly ranking is due in part to their recent no-hope tour to Australia where they were hammered by 21 and 30 points respectively in the first and second Tests.

Without nearly all of the first choice players due to the dates clash with Top 14 play-offs, Marc Lièvremont's young and inexperienced team were always on a hiding to nothing and are now set to pay the long-term price.

France's only (very slim) hopes of closing the gap to their nearest competitors - England (ranked 5th) and Wales (6th) - lie in the November Tests when they face Australia (ranked 3rd) and their nemesis, Argentina (4th).

And the situation looks set to repeat itself next year when France travel South for two Tests against the All Blacks and another against Australia.

"In our discussions, we asked for more time to work with the players and to be able to take the best players on tour - so as to properly represent France," Ntamack told French site Rugbyrama,

"But with the Top 14 Final set for June 6, we're going to be obliged to either leave without our best players, or with a squad of exhausted ones," lamented Ntamack, echoing criticism of the French calendar from Head Coach Marc Lièvremont, captain Lionel Nallet and LNR president Serge Blanco.

"We need to sit around a table and take some decisions for good of French rugby. In Australia we soaked up criticism because the stadiums weren't full. Our sponsors aren't happy either.

"France is the only country not respecting the IRB regulations. The only one! When we assumed our posts last November, we hoped to be able to move things along quickly. Now, there's a lot of frustration."

"Concession needs to be made by both clubs and the national team. But these days the national team is playing second fiddle. We've not been given the best condition to become world champions. There are some big ideas. But the reality is entirely different."

"Our situation is getting worse and worse while our opposition, the English, the Welsh and the Irish are getting organised. Everyone is thinking ahead except for us," bemoaned Lièvremont.

It is widely agreed that the Top 14 calendar is too long, and Lièvremont has gone so far as call the standard of play in the France's domestic championship "mediocre."

Serge Blanco has also raised his concerns, pointing at the number of big games that became non-matches this season as big clubs forfeited any chance of victory by resting their players - doing no good for the sport's reputation nor the coffers of those involved.

But what is to be done?

"There's talk of closing off the championship but we can't tell the clubs on their way up that they've lost their place in the Top 14," said France captain Lionel Nallet.

"The Players are stuck in the middle of huge economic considerations. We're in a society of consumers. There's a very high demand and we have to reply, even if it means putting ourselves in danger.

"Concretely, I don't really know what should be done. A solution must be found for the international players without forgetting that they remain employees of the clubs."

The professional era and hosting the World Cup has revolutionised the game in France, but at the current pace of two steps back for every step forward, French rugby will soon run out of steam.