Reports in France suggest that the playing squad have staged a revolt and “discreetly dismissed” head coach Philippe Saint-André ahead of their World Cup quarter final match with New Zealand this weekend.
L’obs Sport alleges that the players have re-enacted the 2011 campaign, when senior players largely ran the show after their pool stage loss to Tonga, with the players completely losing faith in then coach Marc Lievrement.
Reports in France that Phillipe Saint Andre has been ousted and the players are coaching themselves this week. Play All Blacks Saturday!
— Bernard Jackman (@bernardjackman) October 15, 2015
It wouldn’t be a World Cup without a French revolt and it would appear that we have another one on our hands. France have finished no higher than fourth in the Six Nations under Saint-André, and the dire loss to Ireland at the weekend looks like the straw that broke the camel’s back.
The article claims that the players had grown weary of Saint-André’s “lack of charisma”. They are also reporting that the squad doesn’t see Saint-Andre as a “leader of men”, while assistant Serge Blanco has also been described by the players in the squad as a “destabilising influence”.
While it worked in 2011, when they came within a point of being crowned World Champions, they still face a monumental task this weekend, with the All Blacks lying in wait in Cardiff in the World Cup quarter-final.
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
A perfectly choreographed media stunt to put the wind up the Kiwis?
Again? Is this a French thing? Happened in 2011. Also happened to the French football team in the WC in 2002 and 2010.
Clearly French sportsman are not a fan of coaches.
Don’t think they have a chance of beating NZ. They are a poor side. 4 years ago they didn’t have to beat a SH side to crawl their way to the final; and it was only NZ’s poor execution that kept that final tight.
On the contrary, it was only Craig Joubert’s hilarious interpretation of the breakdown that prevented France from winning the thing.
France always play better after a player Coup d’état.
Makes you wonder why they bother with a head coach in the first place.
Good luck Guy Noves
Ha ha only the French (although Dutch football might creep into the conversation). Got to love them for doing it the Gallic way. No coincidence that coup d’etat is a French word! Allez les Bleus. Just hoping for some Gallic flair to come out now so that we can fall in love with French rugby again.
Yeah surely the French have got to play one great game this RWC? Cos they’ve been very bloody average up til now…
Backs to the wall, massive underdogs, coach revolt, dominant Southern Hemisphere opposition, it’s all going to script so far… Still, head says NZ by at least 10.
Who picks the team?
Our lot did the same with Brian Ashton and made world cup final.Pity the current squad didn’t do it with Headmaster Stu.I am sure they would have done better
And oh so typically French.
They will probably get slaughtered by the Kiwis or we may just have a 3rd Lightning Strike as per 1999 and 2007.
That’s the beauty of French rugby…..you never can tell.
Fofana and Fickou for the centres please not that fat slob again!
The fat slob is on the bench. Dumoulin starts with Fofana. Fickou notable by his absence.
This could be disastrous for the French.
Alex les bless. France by 3