No doubts, no fear. Heading into a critical match with Scotland, the French are quietly confident the first half of their pool campaign at World Cup 2003 has established them as contenders for rugby’s ultimate prize.
”I’m persuaded the best French players are here, so I think the French team is capable of becoming champions of the world,” lock Fabien Pelous said on Tuesday. ”There’s no reason to have any doubts.”
Coach Bernard Laporte wanted his talented but erratic team to build momentum from the start of the tournament. And so far they’ve done just that, blowing past Fiji and coming away from an uneven win over Japan more focused on the mental errors they need to avoid in the knockout rounds.
”We did a pretty good job winning ball in the first two matches and were precise enough in our counterattacks,” said Pelous. ”We’re focused on the task at hand and know what’s expected of us.”
Scotland’s uninspiring win over the United States on Monday held no surprises for the French. And while recognising they must play better than they did against Japan — and above all find a grip on a ball they fumbled 19 times — the French seem increasingly confident they could go all the way.
”I think really there’s not at the moment any other team we’re scared of,” said centre Tony Marsh.
If France beat undefeated Scotland on Saturday at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, they expect — based on seedings — to play Ireland in the quarterfinals in Melbourne. A loss would likely mean a ticket to Brisbane to face defending champion Australia.
”I never even thought of that,” said Laporte, when prodded by an Australian journalist about the prospect of taking on the Wallabies in the quarterfinals. ”To be champions of the world you have to beat everybody.”
The French have every reason to like their chances against the Scots.
Scotland haven’t walked off winners against France since a 36-22 victory at the Stade de France in 1999. Ian McGeechan’s team struggled to shake off Japan in their World Cup opener and beat the United States 39-15 in a scrappy match during which they were penalised 17 times.
Laporte described the Scots’ performance as ”not great but not bad either”. But his team also knows its history.
”We know that they are always capable of playing big in big matches,” said the French coach. ”The proof is that three years ago they stopped the English from winning the Grand Slam. That means it’s a team you must always been wary of.”
After avoiding the media glare for the first half of a tournament in which England and New Zealand have had top billing, the French now have to handle the pressure in the role of legitimate contenders.
”I guess in some respects they [the Scots] are the underdogs,” said Marsh. ”They’ve got nothing to lose.”
Then there’s the pressure on Laporte to keep all his players motivated as he prepares to announce his line-up on Wednesday.
He wants to give his first-choice squad as much game time as possible during the pool matches to achieve the consistency that has often proved elusive for the French. But he said on Tuesday he was aware of the frustration of the reserves sitting in the stands.
”I understand that it’s tough to accept if you haven’t been named to the 22 [players who dress] after three matches,” he said. ”It’s important we have a group that is motivated.”
Against Japan, who France downed 51-29, Laporte made only six changes to his line-up of starters who outclassed Fiji 61-18.
One player who could run out for the first time at World Cup 2003 is prop Sylvain Marconnet, who began practising this week after being sidelined for the two matches with a thigh injury suffered in the team’s pre-World Cup training camp.
Laporte should also be able to use his first-choice flyhalf, Frederic Michalak, who was set to resume practising on Tuesday after being excused from Monday’s workout with sore ribs.
Along with Marconnet, winger Xavier Garbajosa, South African-born centre Brian Liebenberg, flanker Patrick Tabacco and scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili have watched both of France’s first two matches in coat and tie. — Sapa-AP