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Guy Novès' Big Plans To Save French Rugby

Guy Noves

Two new agreements brokered between the FFR and LNR look set to curb the number of overseas players in the Top 14 and return the French national side to its former glory. James Harrington explains.

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Those of a certain age may recall the glory days of French rugby with a wistful sigh, their minds running a grainy showreel featuring highlights of a bloodsoaked Jean-Pierre Rives and a perfectly balanced Serge Blanco; the silver streak that was Philippe Bernat-Salles or Thomas Castaignède doing his tongue-out chicken dance.

Younger rugby fans, however, are more likely to admit that, much like Father Christmas, they no longer believe in this mysterious ‘French flair’ their elders whisper of in awed tones. The French rugby they know is dour and staid and uninspired. Bash. Bosh. Grunt. Repeat. And, more often than not, lose.

Those who like their rugby theories neat and tidy point to the rise of the Top 14 as the richest league in the world as coinciding with the decline and fall of the national team. Yes, club squads are full of exciting imports, they say, but quality ‘Made in France’ players are almost impossible to come by.

At first glance, they have a point. Rugby fans have known for years the French national side is a shadow of its legendary flair-filled self.

But things are not that clear-cut. Coaches have come, blamed the Top 14, blamed the clubs, blamed everyone else, and gone. But it’s not as bad as Philippe Saint-André’s constant fiddling may have led you to believe.

In fact, France has a rich supply of talent at nine and 10. It has the makings of a three-quarter line with the speed and nous to scare just about any opposition you’d care to mention. And powerful, mobile forwards? That production line is running smoothly.

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The good news – if you’re French, or at least miss the glory days of French rugby – is that two halves of what has been described as a ‘small revolution’ have come together under mostly favourable stars, so that this ridiculous talent could strut its stuff on the Test stage sooner rather than later.

A historic accord between the FFR, which runs the national team, and the LNR, made up of club presidents from the Top 14 and ProD2, has allowed France coach Guy Novès to select a 30-man ‘Elite’ squad and a 20-strong ‘Development’ group. He oversees their training, game time and rest periods. He also has more time with them at key points in the calendar – November internationals, Six Nations, the next World Cup.

It would be easy to imagine Novès – who, years later than he should have done, finally took charge of France after last year’s World Cup quarter-final humiliation against New Zealand – bashing a few heads together behind the scenes to get clubs to agree to these changes.

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He could do this because, unlike previous incumbents of the hotseat at the national side’s training centre at Marcoussis, he packs a powerful influential punch in the conservative corridors of power that run rugby in France.

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That accord alone means the gnomic coach, who won four European Cups and 10 French championships with Toulouse, can begin plotting his country’s way back up the rugby pecking order.

But it’s not all. From next season, France’s 30 Top 14 and ProD2 clubs must name a minimum of 14 JIFF-qualified players in their match day squads. Those who do not reach this quota will lose points – up to 10 if they miss the mark badly enough.

In the 2014/15 season, 10 points was the difference between a European Champions Cup slot and relegation to the ProD2.

What’s JIFF, you ask? Call it a quota system if you want, but it’s typically convoluted – typically French. It stands for Joueurs Issus des Filières de Formation. Qualified players are those who have been part of a French club’s youth academy for three seasons before the age or 21, or who had been licensed to play in France for five seasons before the age of 23.

Equally, from next season no more than 16 players in clubs’ 35-man squads can be non-JIFF. That is to say, imports. Overseas players. Pension-fillers. And that’s including any medical jokers – though, crucially, not players hired as cover for those named in Novès’ Elite squad.

Most clubs support the system. Even Racing 92’s owner Jacky Lorenzetti has publicly backed the idea. Two are notable in their opposition. Toulon’s Mourad Boudjellal, who is running to be president of the LNR, has called it unworkable, while the outraged silence from Mohed Altrad, owner of Jake White’s South African player-outreach scheme at Montpellier, is deafening.

The question is: are either of them willing to risk points – and with them play-off or European places – to prove their point?

Regardless, we can expect a few out-of-contract overseas players in France’s Top 14 to start heading back home in search of a job from the end of this season.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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