Les Bleus won't look back in anger
Monday November 30 2009
Still reeling from the heavy loss to New Zealand, France coach Marc Lievremont urged his players to bounce back in next year's Six Nations tournament.
Lievremont, however, is still proud of his men despite Saturday's defeat to the All Blacks in the team's last November test that followed their 20-13 win over world champions South Africa and its 43-5 victory over Samoa in the two preceding weeks. "There is absolutely no anger," Lievremont said yesterday.
"I'm disappointed but I'm also proud of my players because to have a great rugby match you need two teams. We realised pretty soon we were facing a great New Zealand team, but the players kept playing and being brave through the end." Overwhelmed by the All Blacks' speed and accuracy, France conceded five tries in Marseille in their last match against New Zealand before the 2011 World Cup.
The home team initially managed to hide their weaknesses and matched the All Blacks during the opening 20 minutes before receiving a lesson at Velodrome stadium. "This is a hungover morning, but we believe in this group's potential," said Lievremont. "The step was too high against the All Blacks and we have to bounce back. Of course, we are forced to reconsider our global performance this autumn after such a thrashing. We've been brought back to earth."
The French forwards imposed their might on the Springboks and had a fine attacking display against Samoa, but the team struggled at the breakdown against the All Blacks and rarely threatened. France conceded their first try after only eight minutes and missed a great chance to get back in the match moments later when out-half Francois Trinh-Duc threw a forward pass at the conclusion of a nice attacking move that had outpaced the Kiwis' defence.
The French halves pairing of Trinh-Duc and Julien Dupuy disappointed, while New Zealand out-half Daniel Carter was outstanding to kick 14 points and make some brilliant tactical choices to earn the man-of-the-match award.
"Francois saw his limits," Lievremont said when asked to compare Trinh-Duc with Carter. "We appreciate Francois' potential and he showed us some great aspects of his game against Samoa. We hope he will improve."
Lievremont was adamant that he will not revamp his team for the Six Nations. "There will be no upheaval," he said. "It's a shame we didn't win this game because we would have been the tournament favourites, but we will play without a complex." Without trying to downplay the result, Lievremont added the match was more important to the All Blacks, who were determined to avenge France's first win in New Zealand in 15 years last June and to salvage a poor season.
"It was the most important match of our tour because France are probably the team which plays the best rugby in the northern hemisphere," Carter said. Lievremont said he has mixed feelings about his team's last three games but insists he is reassured by his players' commitment. "Before our tour started, I was really worried," he said. "We were going to face the two best teams in the world... at the end of the day, we can say we improved."
France -- Traille; Clerc (Heymans 77), Marty, Jauzion (David 63), Medard; Trinh-Duc, Dupuy (Parra 59); Barcella, Servat (Szarzewski 47), Marconnet (Mas 51), Chabal (Nallet 52), Millo-Chluski, Dusautoir, Ouedraogo (Puricelli 63), Bonnaire.
New Zealand -- Muliaina; Jane, C Smith, Nonu (McAlister 71), Sivivatu; Carter (Donald 77), Cowan (Ellis 75); Woodcock, Hore (Flynn 74), Tialata (Boric 65), Thorn (Franks 65), Donnelly, Kaino, McCaw, Read.
REF -- A Rolland (Ireland).
Irish Independent
