Doubts remain over French coach ‘sacking’

“Since the start of the World Cup, the players and staff have been together and they will work together until the end of the World Cup”, Dusautoir insisted this morning. “One of them was eight years ago, the other one four years ago, I’m just thinking about tomorrow”.

Saint-Andre has championed size and power above all else in his four years as France boss, and paid a hefty price – but refused to admit he had erred in that ambition.

“We don’t think Saint-Andre has lost the group at all”.

New Zealand without question have the pace and power to dominate France on Saturday, however if the team emblazoned in Cockerel can cut out simple errors, they could reveal cracks in their opponents’ game.

France will not appear in a Rugby World Cup semi-final for the first time since 1991. Parra was favoured under Saint-Andre’s predecessor Marc Lievremont. He had his players in camp for three months, which involved trips to the Alps and the Pyrenees, and said that preparation would be enough to bring the cup back.

“Yes, we’ve managed a couple of players who have had a heavy workload and that’s been strategic and hopefully that will pay benefits for us because that’s part of the plan.” he said. “It shows how tough quarter-finals are and that’s the way it should be”.

“I have no problems with my role, I accept my responsibilities”.

The most recent of those wins came at the 2007 World Cup when France recorded a 20-18 quarter-final win at the Millennium Stadium ” the venue for Saturday’s encounter, which comes at the same stage of this year’s event. The former Toulouse coach has to rediscover France’s identity, establish a better rapport between the national team and the country’s powerful clubs, and replace a generation of players set to call time on their global careers. Thierry Dusautoir has Richie McCaw.

“Can you explain to me what French flair is?” he said.

“But they successfully launched a counter-attack, we couldn’t stick to their score, and then it gets really hard”.

“Well to be honest you would rather be clapped than booed so of course but I’m mostly disappointed for the players today”, said Saint-Andre.

“We are confident in (Le Roux’s) ability to fight a lot and run against New Zealand, because we were under pressure against Ireland at the breakdown”, France forwards coach Yannick Bru said.

It happened at the last World Cup and reports are emerging it has happened again.