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MARCOUSSIS - France are prepared for the pressure of hosting the World Cup opening on September 7 coach Bernard Laporte said on Friday.
"Playing the World Cup in France means extra pressure but I have the feeling the players will be able to manage the event," Laporte told a news conference a week before his team plays the opening game of the tournament against Argentina.
"The pressure will grow when the competition starts but the guys are all experienced players who are used to play at the highest level for club and country," he added.
Team manager Jo Maso, said he hoped the pressure would be "a positive factor".
"For a rugby player nothing beats playing the opening game at home, in front of family, friends and supporters," he added. "I'm sure the players will be dying to overcome everything."
France, losing finalists in 1987 and 1999, will face Argentina at the Stade de France in Pool D which also includes Ireland, Namibia and Georgia.
Top spot of their group would win them a quarter-final against Scotland and Italy in Paris. Second place would sentence them to a quarter-final against hot favourites New Zealand in Cardiff.
Maso confirmed the starting line-up for the Pumas games would be announced on Monday.
"We'll have a meeting on Sunday evening with Bernard and the two assistant coaches Bernard Vivies and Jacques Brunel. The competition is still open for a lot of positions", he added.
The main question marks still hanging around the French set-up are the halfbacks, with a slight advantage to halfback Pierre Mignoni and first five-eighths David Skrela, and the back row, where Serge Betsen is the the only certain starter.
"We kept saying that the World Cup would be won or lost by 30 players. We are not going to change our mind because the first game is looming, particularly as we have been spared by injuries in our three warm-up games," Maso said.
France defeated England 21-15 at Twickenham and 22-9 in Marseille and overcame Wales 34-7 in Cardiff.
"So far, eveyrhing went smoothly. Now, time is flying. We are longing to enter the competition and so are the players," Maso said.
- REUTERS
