Time for Lievremont to pull his head out of...

...the clouds and sort his halfbacks out. What did you think I was going to say?

Anyway, to the topic at hand. This thread is not to discuss Wales because there are quite a few for that purpose, but rather their opponents and the only Northern Hemisphere team left with a shot at silverware. And that makes me sad because they look shoite. There are about a few sides I'd feel have a better chance of upsetting the winner of Australia/NZ including Wales, South Africa and Ireland but their chances are gone whilst, unbelievably, France are still standing.

So first of all, fair play to them for getting through. But bar the tight five, lets not pretend Lievremont is getting the best out of his team. A bit like Ashton with England in 2007, they've gotten where they are mainly due to the latent talent and desire of their players but there are several things that just aren't working. He's got to realise the importance of keeping William Servat on the pitch- the guy was a monster today. France have the tight five to get them possession. Very powerful scrum, although they benefitted greatly from the early exit of Adam Jones, and their lineout was magnificent. No problems there. The baffling thing was the backrow; an all-star lineup of Dusatoir, Bonnaire and Harinordoquy I expected to dominate when Wales lost their Captain an openside but they largely drifted in and out of the game without ever being particularly influential; the pack is very much their strength though. I thought this was most apparent at the end of the game when they were hanging on for dear life as Wales attempted to set-up a drop goal; a succession of forwards flew out to smash the ball-carrier and force the red tide backwards.

So on paper, just a few things need to change up front- a few big names to up their game- but what happens when they win the ball? He's made a balls of the halfbacks so far. He may feel vindicated for picking Parra at 10 and making the Final, and maybe it was the right decision at the time. Trinh-Duc needed a kick up the backside and to find some form. He had been fairly insipid. So when Trinh-Duc came charging into the action against the All Blacks with a massive point to prove I though "Aha! Clever, now Trinh-Duc will go on to nail his place"

Unfortunately that hasn't happened. He's persisted with Parra and Yachvilli, despite the latter picking up a knock. Yachvilli and Parra as a unit had a very poor game today. Yachvilli put Parra under a lot of pressure and Parra had some nice touches, but never controlled the game or showed enough authority to suggest he's a World Cup winning 10 in waiting. He is a classy goalkicker and scrum-half though; drop the indifferent and perhaps even not fully fit Yachvilli and let Trinh-Duc take charge.

I think there is an air of panic at times about this French team; saw against Tonga and I saw it today at times. They don't have enough structure and authority in the key decision making positions. I think not having a specialist 10 is a pretty massive and fundamental weakness. The backline has been drained of all confidence- is it too late to change?

France are the last NH team but I can't help but feel Lievremont has a lot of work to do in a week to deny the Tri-Nations a sixth World Cup!

Yachvili looked like he was playing on one leg. He should never have played 80. The distance they got on their kicks was poor also. I thought the only players who stood out today were Dusatoir and Bonnaire. At the last ruck Mas was on the fringe and he was stood 2 foot back. They looked gone.

This is an awful French team and no more than their awful coach deserves. Everyone likes to make excuses for the French because of the flair they can bring to the game. Truth is, they have not played with any flair for a long time. Lievremont doesn't need to pull his head out of anywhere he just needs to leave. France deserves far better.

This French side is the worst ever to contest a WC final and will be soundly beaten. It's a shame that they have ended up flying a flag for NH rugby.

I don't think Lievremont actually knows where his head is, as evidenced by that silly moustache!

"I think not having a specialist 10 is a pretty massive and fundamental weakness" is probably as correct as any statement could be.

Most of the rugby world (including the french) haven't a clue as to what Lievremont is thinking or trying to do, I assume the players themselves have similar issues.

I truly hope that France do sort themselves out, as it's going to be a stain on this world cup if they play in the final like they've played so far.

The most annoying thing about France is that they potentially have one of the best teams in the world but Lievremont keeps selecting mad XVs. Now the team he has seemed to settle on has a scrum half playing out half. After this world cup France need to clear their heads, cut the crap and play the rugby we know they are capable of.

This would be my French XV if I were selecting one:

1) Barcella
2) Servat
3) Mas
4) Pape
5) Nallet
6) Harinordoquy
7) Dusuatoir
8) Picamoles
9) Parra
10) Trinc-Duc
11) Heymans
12) Mermoz
13) Rougerie
14) Clerc
15) Medard

Yeah me too Dragon. I've been neutral since my side were sent packing last weekend and I just want to see a good, close hard-fought game of rugby. I have no real confidence in Lievremont to right the wrongs though, sadly.

He should go- and this is after getting to the Final! They'll say he was lucky England are at a low ebb, that Wales had to play 60-odd minutes with 14 but where he was lucky- really lucky- is Canada beating Tonga in the second game of that group!

First ever team to reach the Final with only two group wins, I'm sure.

I still believe France can deliver a big game with or without the input of their coach. They have a big fear factor about World Cup semi-finals and they were much more impressive against England- but still don't see them being good enough!

I have to agree Notch, and he is on his way anyway... Saint Andre replacing him... maybe he could start today, might help the French up their game. For the good of Rugby I hope they can.

Not sure if first team with only 2 group wins... would have to look at some stats, it's possible that may have happened when there were only 4 teams (3 games) per group.

Sorry for making you neutral

Rory_Gallagher wrote:The most annoying thing about France is that they potentially have one of the best teams in the world but Lievremont keeps selecting mad XVs. Now the team he has seemed to settle on has a scrum half playing out half. After this world cup France need to clear their heads, cut the crap and play the rugby we know they are capable of.

This would be my French XV if I were selecting one:

1) Barcella
2) Servat
3) Mas
4) Pape
5) Nallet
6) Harinordoquy
7) Dusuatoir
8) Picamoles
9) Parra
10) Trinc-Duc
11) Heymans
12) Mermoz
13) Rougerie
14) Clerc
15) Medard

Exactly my team Rory . I'm French and I can't watch a single match of Lievremont's team . To beat the ABs, France needs all her genious players ( and Heymans is one ) and of course a miracle . But can a miracle happen for this headless team, with a boring Palisson and a 9 playing 10 ? Of course nothing can replace Domingo and the real Barcella and Picamoles ( they have been injured all last year and are not themselves now) .But I can't accept Lievremont's constant choices . We never saw the French team in this WC, and today people in France are rather disgusted . You won't find any group of fans singing anywhere although a final is coming .
French people don't care of the qualification today, no one is happy .

I thought the half backs did ok today. Medard was absolutely rubbish. I would play heymans at fb with medard either on the wing or bench. Rest of the team picks itself. It is possible for them to win the final, but highly unlikely. Except for defence they look clueless. Its like watching 15 men who are clearly rugby players but still haven't figured out what exactly all 15 of them should be doing together.

The reason they were well back from the rucks at the end including Mas was so as not to give away any penalties .

Well they are in the final but its hard to have any sympathy for them. Maybe like England 4 years ago they dont care, they are in a final and that is all that matters.

It probably shows just how bad the English were last week - probably all still sh*t-faced

Yeah just going to throw in an approval stamp comment here. Nothing to add.

That's two cups in a row now that a poor team has wandered into the final. But at least last time England earned their place with guts and passion. France are lucky that Canada beat Tonga, to prevent them deservedly being dumped out in the pools stage. They're lucky they met an England team that also had off the field problems and was playing poorly.

They were lucky Ireland put Australia into the other side of the draw and they were lucky today that Warburton got that rush of the blood to the head. It was a correct decision to send him off. But they were lucky in the sense that another ref might have bottled the decision in a semi final and just given a yellow.

I don't think the French team deserve to be in the final because it's not as if they're a poor team playing above themselves. They're a very talented team playing well below themselves, and they're only in the final due to a series of strokes of luck. I know that seems harsh on the French. But I don't really blame the players as much as I blame a very poor head coach. It would actually be funny if they suddenly found that big unstoppable French performance inside them and won the World Cup.

Just watched the post match interviews with the French players, they were actaully embaressed to have gone through.

1. I think if Tonga had beaten Canada they would have approached the game differently.

2. Do they deserve to be in the final...well they won their QF and SF so yes they do deserve to be there.

3. You tend to make your own luck.

What will they do in the final...who knows...they could get hammered by 50+ points or do something out of the ordinary...but as someone french once said....pffff (shrugs shoulders).

Why are some us irish so smug and patronising towards the french. Its not as if we beat them regularly. Yes they have been poor in world cup but also brilliant in patches. In other words typically french. They could well win the thing. Nugent and lenihan were a disgrace on saturday.

Hope for a classic game on sunday. There have been plenty of compelling dogfights but the tournament needs a great final

i wonder if trinh-duc will start at 10 in the final. Liveremont is unpredictable and may well do that