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CARDIFF - Coach Bernard Laporte on Monday (NZ time) slammed former-internationals-turned-media-columnists who heavily criticised France since their defeat by Argentina in the opening game of the rugby World Cup.
"I don't like those former international players who have their mouths full of venomous words. We know who they are, they are just bitter," he told a news conference on the day after France stunned New Zealand 20-18 in their quarter-final.
"We know they don't want us to win but what are they going to do now all those people who said that Raphael Ibanez and Fabien Pelous were too old to play? Cry? Cross their fingers so we'll lose to England in the semifinal?"
The French coach said he was not trying to defend himself because he had nothing to lose as he will quit his coaching job to become a sports minister at the end of the World Cup.
"I hear the players talking to each other, they say 'I played with that guy, what are his credentials? He should shut up'. It shows they are hurt," he said.
"I'm in charge of the team, they are my players and I'll fight tooth and nail for them because I love them."
- REUTERS
