Five thoughts about France
After watching a lot of Top 14 it was good to see these guys in the flesh.
1. They were bloody awful
Forget about the first test, they were missing ten players from the XV because they had played in the Top 14 final or were recovering from injuries.
But the second and third test teams were close to their best available: only hookers Dimitri Szarzewski and Benjamin Kayser, were crocked at home, and warhorse lock Pascal Papé was rested.
They should have done better, especially in Sydney when everybody had a game under their belt.
It underlines how well the Wallabies did between the ears on their Spring Tour last year.
2. Who were their best players?
Only no. 8 Damien Chouly, their best performer, and hooker Guilhem Guirado, who made progress, shone on the tour. Dusautor was impressive in the arm wrestle in Melbourne but was hardly noticeable in Sydney.
You’d struggle to think of any other regular test player who was above adequate.
Guilhem Guirado – rake’s progress was impressive
3. Who were the duds?
Too many to mention but the pack as a whole didn’t give their backs a lot of good ball and therefore star players like fullback Dulin and winger Huget looked ordinary, which they are not.
Even taking everything into account, the centres Fofana and Bastareaud were poor—they had a few individual moments when they could have made a difference but they didn’t.
I’ve watched them a lot in club rugby and wanted to see them strut their stuff at the ground (not too often, mind) but I was disappointed in them.
4. Why aren’t France any better and more consistent since they have one of the strongest club competitions in the world, The Top 14?
It’s the same reason as why the England football team is crap these days compared to the excellence of the Premiership—too many foreigners; especially in key positions.
5. What was the big plus?
Only one—the success of LHP Alexandre Menini and THP Rabah Slimani, who didn’t have a starting test between them before the tour but shaded Slipper and Kepu who were much more experienced in test rugby.
That was one rooster feather that Philippe Saint-André could put in his beret.
There were enough lying around on the floor for him to use.
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