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PARIS - The stage is the same, but the cast has greatly changed as France confront their rugby World Cup fate in a crucial Pool D match against Ireland on Saturday.
The match comes two weeks to the day after the traumatic 12-17 loss at the same Stade de France to Argentina, a defeat that set alarm bells ringing the length and breadth of the country.
Since then, a free-flowing 87-10 win over lowly Namibia has helped ease the pain, but gritty Ireland will be an altogether different prospect even if Eddie O'Sullivan's side are struggling themselves.
A second defeat for France would be synonomous with a shameful exit from the competition for the players before the quarterfinals and would be perceived as a national humiliation.
Coach Bernard Laporte has rung the changes with only seven players who started against Argentina in the starting-line up to take on the Irish.
The talk is of a new spirit flowing through the 30-strong squad to free them from the weight of pressure that weighed so heavily prior to the Argentina game, but no-one doubts that the Ireland game is every bit as important.
"I can see only one outcome and that is a victory," French Rugby Federation chief Bernard Lapasset said.
"There is no point going on about what tactics to employ, we just have to go out there and win. We cannot even consider the idea of losing.
"I have spoken to the players and told them that everything has been done for them, they have been perfectly trained.
"I told them 'there is one thing I cannot give you and that is what you do with the French shirt on - that is up to you - so seize the moment!"'
Before the World Cup started, the French identified five senior players as being the bedrock for the campaign - skipper and hooker Raphael Ibanez, lock Fabien Pelous, Cameroon-born flanker Serge Betsen and among the backs, winger Christophe Dominici and centre Yannick Jauzion.
They all started against Argentina, but only two - Ibanez and Betsen - will start against the Irish.
Ibanez, who plays his club rugby for Wasps in England, is adamant that there will be no repeat of the stage-fright that struck the French players against Argentina.
"It is totally out of the question that the same thing will happen," he said.
"We all struggled in the buildup to the Argentina game and I just hope that we have all learned our lessons before taking on the Irish.
"It's up to us to deal with the pressure and rediscover the joy of playing that we showed against Namibia. That was great fun because everyone was enjoying being part of it."
Two new faces from the team that started against Argentina - first five-eighth Frederic Michalak and lock Sebastien Chabal - are being seen as key to the French effort.
The massive Chabal in particular has caught the eye with his driving runs and "caveman" appearance helping to rally the French public behind their team.
Michalak, long regarded as the most talented back in the French ranks, but who has been sidelined by injuries, said the Sale player could be the vital ingredient France needs.
"We need to follow his lead because he is on the right track," he said.
"The other teams fear him and we need to cash in on this. It takes two or three opposition players to counter him and this creates spaces that we can utilise."
- AFP
