France

Friday 18th May 2001

Colours: Blue, white and red
Nicknames: Les Bleus, Les Tricolores
Honours: Six Nations Grand Slam (2004, 2002), Five Nations Grand Slam (1968, 1977, 1981, 1987, 1997, 1998), World Cup runners-up (1987, 1999).

Coach: Studious Bernard Laporte has endured a see-saw existence since taken the reigns prior to the 1999 Rugby World Cup. World Cup finalists to fifth in the Six Nations, Grand Slam champions to losing a Test series to Argentina. Laporte has brought discipline and organisation to a traditionally volatile and flamboyant side, but has had trouble trying to mix the perfect cocktail time after time.

Captain: Back in the captaincy saddle after the retirement of Fabien Galthié, Toulouse star Fabien Pelous is no stranger to leadership. A star performer in the second row or the back of the scrum, his presence in the French side is sometimes taken for granted.

Player(s) to watch: Toulouse centre Florian Fritz won both 2005 Player of the Year and 2005 Newcomer of the Year awards at the French 'Night of Rugby' in December 2005, and was first choice to partner Yannick Jauzion in both of November 2005's high-profile Tests against Australia and South Africa. He is also Jauzion's partner in the Toulouse centres as well, and Toulouse's back-line creativity needs little embellishment.

Profile: For many rugby purists, rugby 'a la français' is the only way to serve up the sport. At its best French rugby is romantic, elegant, stylish, creative and imaginative.

But sometimes they seem more keen to awe rather than score and when frustration sets in Les Bleus take on the look of a heated, poorly-disciplined tribe.

Still, France sits on a rugby gold mine. Only England has more senior rugby players and nobody has more players of sheer, magical ability and a such a depth of pure talent.

France is a team who are feared by opponents for their unpredictability and devastating attacking style. Even in these days of professional rugby, the French have managed to stay true to the spirit of their illustrious forbearers such as Jean-Pierre Rives, Serge Blanco and Pierre Villepreux, ensuring they are always exciting to watch.

It would certainly appear to be an effective style of play as France are the only northern hemisphere nation to reach two World Cup Finals. In 1987 they lost to New Zealand and in 1999 were runners-up to Australia in Wales, having already provided the highlight of the tournament by beating a much-fancied New Zealand side in a famous semi-final at Twickenham.

France fell to England in the semi-finals of RWC 2003, but they made amends in the subsequent Six Nations, claiming the Grand Slam in 2004 with five extremely polished performances.

When France are at their best they provide a devastating brand of attacking rugby which is nigh on impossible to defend against as the forwards drive deep into opposition territory before linking up with a back-line dripping with talent.

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