Rugby World Cup Profile – France
The French national Rugby Union team, commonly known as the Les Bleus, find itself in Pool A of the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC). Besides France, other teams in Pool A include Canada, Japan,
New Zealand and Tonga.
The 2011 RWC will be France’s seventh consecutive RWC appearance. Although they are yet to win the Rugby Crown, Les Bleus have so far reached two finals and another three semi-finals. Additionally,
they had the honour of hosting 2007’s RWC.
France is renowned for the defeats they handed over to the All Blacks to keep their progress in Rugby’s premier event under check. So far, they have defeated the All Blacks twice in the knockout
phases. They defeated the All Blacks in the 1999 semi-final and later in 2007 they beat them in the quarter-finals. Their win on both occasions was termed as two of biggest RWC’s upsets.
France secured their place in the 2011 RWC by virtue of being, ranked among the top 12 rugby-playing nations.
Les Bleus currently is placed fifth in the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) 2011 World Rankings. Besides other tours and games, they regularly compete in the Six Nations competition. They
were the winner of the Six Nations crown in 2010; however, in 2011 they finished second on the points table with six points.
For French team, it’s often associated that the only predictably thing about them is their un-predictability. Earlier this year they started the 2011 Six Nations strongly, won both of their
opening games of the tournament against the Scotland and Ireland. They then lost their way, as they lost to the England and followed it with their shocking defeat by the hands of the Italy. Later they followed it with their 28 – 9 victory over the Wales.
The duo of Fulgence Ouedraogo and Maxime Medard are believed to be the most admired French players in the international Rugby’s circuit.
The 25 year old Monpellier flanker Ouedraogo, is famous for his explosive ball carrying, breakdown, pace and genuine strength in the scrum pack. He has helped the Montpellier to lift the French
14 title, with his exceptional on field performance.
The 24-year-old Toulouse utility back Medard can play at both fullback and at the winger position. He introduced himself on with world circuit, with his match-winning tackle try against the
All Blacks, during Les Blues tour of the Island in 2009.
Raphaël Ibanez with is 18 appearances, holds the record for the most appearances by a French player in a RWC tournament.
Thierry Lacroix with his 124 points coming from his 9 matches, he has played for the national team, holds the record for the highest point scorer in the RWC tournament, for France. His 12
points include 4 tries, 7 conversions, and 30 penalties. Christophe Dominici with his 8 tries holds the record for the most tries (8) for France in the RWC tournament.
Les Blues provisional 2011 RWC training squad includes,
Forwards: Fabien Barcella, Julien Bonnaire, Thomas Domingo, Luc Ducalcon, Thierry Dusautoir (captain), Imanol Harinordoquy, Sylvain Marconnet, Nicolas Mas, Romain Millo-Chluski, Raphael Lakafia,
Lionel Nallet, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Pascal Pape, Louis Picamoles, Julien Pierre, Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Dimitri Szarzewski.
Backs: Vincent Clerc, Patrice Estebanez, Cedric Heymans, Yoann Huget, David Marty, Maxime Medard, Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson, Morgan Parra, Aurelien Rougerie, David Skrela, Damien Traille,
Francois Trinh-Duc, Dimitri Yachvili.
France will start as the favourite to win their pool matches against the Canada and Japan. But for their remaining two pool matches against the All Blacks and Tonga, it depends which French
team plays on the field that they.
They have the potential and history of the defeating the All Blacks, but also have a rich history of losing the game to the opponents like Tonga.
Even with their un-predictability, most observers put them in contention for the RWC, which will be there first in the RWC history.
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