French rugby on the rise

Flanker Yannick Nyanga (left) has been called the best in Europe. Picture / Reuters

While New Zealanders are deservedly basking in the glory of the All Black Grand Slam and the consistent praise that they are the best team in the world, it is worth pausing for a moment to consider the Gallic menace.

We have all been so busy enjoying the success of Graham Henry's All Blacks, in a quite unprecedented year for All Black rugby, that we have maybe been guilty of overlooking similar advances being made by France - the host nation of the 2007 World Cup and the team already recognised as the biggest threat to Henry's raison d'etre.

After a flawed Six Nations performance, the French have been quietly shadowing Henry's All Blacks: growing in depth and confidence and stitching together an undefeated 'November Slam'.

That France are a threat is nothing new. But what is new is the way they are growing in depth, and coach Bernard Laporte - who has often produced selections and game plans seemingly out of step with traditional French strengths - seems to be mining a profitable new seam of players and form.

The All Blacks play the French twice at home next year in what shapes as a seminal contest, the winner of which will go into the 2007 World Cup with a psychological advantage.

Many New Zealanders might believe that is the province of the All Blacks after their barnstorming 45-6 dismissal of the French in 2004. However, after four test victories in November - against Australia, Canada, Tonga and, most impressively, South Africa - the French are squaring up nicely to what is shaping as their best chance yet to win the World Cup.

Their progress can probably be measured in three ways: selections, depth and form.

Selections

The French have been quietly adding to an established core of players. Unlike New Zealand, they have never been prone to sending old warriors out to pasture too early. However, it's the 'new boys' who are raising eyebrows and may bring back a sense of flair to Les Tricoleurs, as well as a sense of upcoming glory.

Players like Julian Laharrague - the Toulouse winger whom Laporte prefers to play at fullback, giving the French back three a decidedly pacy and creative look - are an example of Laporte's new thinking, leaving behind the old forward-dominated and kicking first-five game plan. Laharrague is quick and elusive and has an 80 per cent goalkicking record for Toulouse this year.

The other find of the year has been 21-year-old flanker Yannick Nyanga. Rangy, powerful and a real competitor at ruck and maul, Nyanga is a devastating runner. If Laporte fields Nyanga and Serge Betsen, another established and successful hunter of the ball, Richie McCaw will have some real competition.

Nyanga made the try for another new boy - hooker Dimitri Szarzewski (a fine old French name) - against South Africa and has been called the best in Europe after making a mark in a season where senior loose forwards Olivier Magne, Betsen and Imanol Harinordoquy were injured.

Szarzewski himself has been a find, relegating Sebastien Bruno and Raphael Ibanez to the bench. He showed real pace to score against the Springboks, although his lineout throwing was haphazard. Add to that new blood at lock where Lionel Nallet has added bulk and power to his mobility and replaced banned skipper Fabien Pelous effectively against South Africa.

Another big and powerful lock, Pascal Pape, was injured for this series but is regarded as a certainty for the World Cup. And then there is centre Benoit Baby whose play, like his name, is unusual and full of flair.

Depth

Draw a deep breath, New Zealand. The French, like a lot of Northern Hemisphere-ites, have been laying it on thick about New Zealand having the best two teams in the world. What a lot of people do not recognise is that, thanks to this season, the French are also capable of putting out two world-class, powerful and winning teams.

From fullback (Laharrague and veteran Thomas Castaignede) to hooker (Szarzewski, Bruno and Ibanez), the French have a wealth of resources. That is especially true at loose forward, centre, the halves and at lock. We reproduce what we think are the top two French teams at the foot of this story.

They have benefited from the loss to injury of the three senior loose forwards with Nyanga, No 8/No 6 Remy Martin and the rugged Julian Bonnaire all making big strides this season. All, like their All Black counterparts, can play in different loose forward positions.

At centre, if Baby's long-term injury keeps him out, the French will likely field the Toulouse pairing of Yannick Jauzion (hailed by many northern writers as the best centre in the world this year) and the powerful Florian Fritz.

Form

Against South Africa, France gave a hint of their new game plan - turning on the flair to score tries and closing the game down once establishing a lead. Big winger Aurelien Rougerie counter-attacked from a Springbok kick, Nyanga exploded into the Bok ranks, stormed down the touchline and in-passed to Szarzewski. The French lead extended to 15-0 after first-five Frederic Michalak prospered from a dropped Bok ball and raced away to score.

Michalak, often a problem child for the French in their conservative mode, really looks the goods in this side, although the form of goalkicking halfback Jean-Baptiste Elissalde is even better. Lively and talented, the little halfback still delivered quality ball and ran tellingly, even with the Springbok scrum and ruck putting pressure on the French.

The Boks hit back with a try to lock Bakkies Botha for an 18-10 scoreline but Rougerie was put through by a delightful Elissalde grubber. The Springboks came back with five minutes on the clock when centre Jaque Fourie scored but the French forwards and defence closed out matters comfortably.

It was an impressive performance against the only side to beat the All Blacks in 2005. Ironically, the only area where the All Blacks might enjoy a measure of dominance is the scrum which was overshadowed by the Boks for much of the match.

The French will well remember the humiliation that the regenerated All Black scrum put them through last year and will be seeking to be competitive, at least. But the fact remains - France, version 2005, have rediscovered the flair which means they can beat any team on the planet and not just scrummage them to death.


France 'A': Julian Laharrague, Aurelien Rougerie, Cedric Heymans, Florian Fritz, Yannick Jauzion, Frederic Michalak, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Imanol Harinordoquy, Serge Betsen, Yannick Nyanga, Fabien Pelous, Pascal Pape, Pieter de Villers, Olivier Milloud, Dimitri Szarzewski.

France 'B': Thomas Castaignede, Vincent Clerc, Christophe Dominici, David Marty or Damien Traille, Benoit Baby, Yann Delaigue, Dimitri Yachvili, Remy Martin, Julian Bonnaire, Olivier Magne, Jerome Thion, Lionel Nallet, Sylvain Marconnet, Jean-Baptiste Poux, Sebastien Bruno.