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FRANCE TEAM PROFILE The French – as so often – will be the great unknown going into the Six Nations. After back to back titles in 2006 and 2007 they were beaten at home by England in the World Cup semi-final, then new coach Marc Lievremont seemed at times to use last year’s competition as a glorified training match, blooding young players and trying out various new combinations, including a half-back pairing with just two caps between them in another Paris defeat at the hands of Le Rostbif. They � COACH MARC LIEVREMONT Lievremont succeeded Bernard Laporte as national
coach in the aftermath of France’s disappointing 2007
World Cup exit at the hands of England. After a
successful reign, Laporte joined the cabinet as
France’s sports minister and Lievremont’s domestic
success with Dax was rewarded with a fast track, past
many high calibre names, right to the top. With many
critics against the young coach from the start, he
came under heavy fire when he used 53 different
players in his first seven matches, handing out 25 first
caps but he claims he is finished with experimentation now and ready to
consolidate a squad. The ex-International flanker got the job over highly
acclaimed Sale coach Philippe Saint-Andres and Fabien Gaulthie who now
works with Argentina. Lievremont, who won 25 caps for France between
1995 and 1999 will be assisted by former team-mate Emile Ntamack Far left The flamboyantly-bearded Sebastian Chabal is one of France’s most instantly recognisable players CLASSIC SPORTS SERIES / 105 |