Rugby World Cup: France love their 'smouldering' skipper

The French rugby team - just like kiwi women - know they've got something special in captain Thierry Dusautoir.

Dusautoir was rated one of the most handsome men at the Rugby World Cup by the Woman's Weekly staff in a ranking this week for the Herald. It noted the flanker's "chest-to-waist ratio," "smouldering eyes" and the fact he is a chemical engineer, as winning man-factors.

Winger Vincent Clerc, 30, looked a shade gleeful yesterday when asked about what the team had made of that. Through an interpreter the chatty winger said the French were known appreciators of beauty.

"I completely agree, the whole team thinks Thierry's one of the best looking guys in the world."

His captain wasn't around to hear that quip but it's one that Clerc as one of the few remaining Les Bleus members who played in the 2007 quarter final where France blasted New Zealand out of the tournament, probably has the seniority, and cheek, to do so.

The 30-year-old's a likeable guy. He dipped in and out of French and English during the interview and showed a sence of humour when asked about why his team had imported close too $16,800 worth of coffee for the tournament's duration.

It wasn't just coffee his mates had shipped over, he said, but the esspresso machines too.

Had he tried any New Zealand coffee?

"Just Starbucks," he grinned.

The team were enjoying being based in Takapuna with the beach on their doorstep and had done a bit of paddleboarding which he'd enjoyed.

But for teammate Imanol Harinordoquy the watersport wasn't up his alley. The 1.92m Bayonne-born Basque plays at the back of the scrum and speaks in a no-nonsense way about the sessions.

It almost looked like the hardman shuddered when he described the weather. It was cold, he said.

"Only one in 30 [players] took pleasure from that.

"I am not so bad but not so good."

Lots of things had to go right this Saturday for the French to win - for starters his team would have to be "heroic," he mused.

But Cardiff four years ago was a clear reminder, even to their own fans Harinordoquy said, that it could be done.

"It was special, I think they put this match there [in Wales instead of Paris] because nobody wanted to see us losing against New Zealand."

Still, if the French didn't win this weekend the remaining draw still might see them at Eden Park come October 23. A Gallic win then against the All Blacks, would be a nice slice of history, Harinordoquy said.

"Not this week, but in the final - that will be good."