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'The World Cup... I'm not sure it's going to happen for them'
By Josh Raisey
Despite going unbeaten in the Autumn Nations Series, which included a victory over the All Blacks, former South Africa prop Hanyani Shimange believes France’s travelling policy will prohibit them from winning a World Cup.
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Fabien Galthie travelled with a weakened squad to Argentina in July, where they drew 1-1 with the Pumas, and will do so again next year against the All Blacks in a three-Test series.
Given the length and intensity of the Top 14, France are effectively forced into holding their best players back for these summer tours. But this prevents France from ever being “uncomfortable away from home,” according to Shimange, which will affect their hopes of winning a World Cup.
That was of course not a problem for them last year with a home World Cup, but they will now have to try and lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time on Australian soil in 2027.
Speaking on RugbyPass TV’s Boks Office podcast, the nine-cap Bok questioned whether this current policy is the best thing for France.
“France is a weird one for me,” he said. “It’s the touring thing I don’t enjoy. They’re sending a B team to New Zealand. I think that affects them come World Cup time. As good as they are at home, they beat New Zealand, they beat Argentina, if these guys don’t get uncomfortable away from home, the World Cup I’m not sure it’s going to happen for them.”
Joining Shimange on the podcast, Schalk Burger said that there was a lot to like about French rugby currently, but pointed out that they play in “pockets”, which may not always be enough to get the team over the line.
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“They’re a quality side,” Burger said. “Like this weekend against Argentina, Argentina bossed the stats with ball carries, they had most of the possession, territory is normally quite even against them. But then they’ve got some firepower when they get into your 22. That first try is the blueprint for them- back ball, Dupont round the corner, forwards stay on top of the ball and they score within two or three phases.
“They produce a lot of players. They’re similar to South Africa where new players step up and they just look like world-class players.
“They play in these pockets. They can’t keep that tempo there for 80 minutes. For this weekend, they played 20 minutes of rugby and that was good enough to put them away.”
Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)
One potential solution I'm thinking about is for some specific year - for instance Lion tours years - french squad tours are inverted. In other words, France goes to tour in the south hemishere in November, and host the summer tour matches with the "B-team".
Culture difference.
I would be embarrassed as hell if the All Blacks sent a 2nd string side up north to get pasted 3-0 in a series.
“But we couldn’t send the best All Black side cos they were all playing finals..” is what the people responsible would be screaming as we dragged them into the street and beat them with hammers.
Why are my fellow saffas so interested in the French? Do you see any other country talk this much about us? No. The French will do what they believe is best for them. Get over it saffas. Ja, ek praat met my eie tjommas ook. It is almost as if we know we got lucky in the WC against them and the next time our luck will run out..just saying.
The French is ahead of everybody els. Look at football. What is more important, premier leauge final or friendly for your country?
Why doesn’t France just plan a 3 or 4 game tour to the south during the same window as the Autumn nations. Pick a different country and mix it up. It’ll be refreshing and very popular watching France take on Argentina, Boks, Aussies or kiwis every 4 years!
I agree completely with that. I’d love to see it happen! We should take example from the Lions Tour
He has a point but I am not sure tours are a good preparation for world cup. Both competitions are very different. In tours it will be a rather short (2 to 3 matchs) challenge focused on one team in a hostile territory. You play your best player players minus injuries, and arguably it can prepare for the successions of high level matchs the teams face in the final round of the world cup, although without the 2 months preparation beforehand nor attrition due to player injuries and fatigues from the pool matchs.
World cups are rather unique for international rugby competition with a succession of 7 matchs, and building depth is primordial, as well as keeping players in form.
Its the experience at performing under very different circumstances and being together for 4 weeks that gives the benifit come WC time.
That's crazy not to understand something as simple as this. The summer tours scheduled by World Rugby coincide with the finales of the Top 14, which means that the best French players are playing the most important matches of their year at that time. It's not a matter of being afraid or uncomfortable with the idea of playing away from French territory, but it's just not the players' priority to go play friendly matches on the other side of the world at that time of the year. Organize international matches wherever you want in October, and you'll see that we'll send our A team. It's not because the southerners keep repeating the idea that we are afraid that we will eventually send the A team next June. As long as the summer tour takes place in June, France WILL NOT send its A team.
As someone else pointed out, you have slightly misunderstood the article.
They are not saying that France are uncomfortable playing away from home.
They are saying that by not sending their top players on foreign tours, the best French players are not exposed enough to the uncomfortable conditions of foreign test matches to win a world cup on foreign soil.
Essentially, France will have a better chance of winning a world cup if their top players are given more opportunities to play test matches in foreign countries.
What’s more important I guess is relative. Most would say playing for your country against the All blacks in Kiwi land is dream come true. But I do see what you’re saying.
You've completely missed the point of the article. Simply put, the reason why France will not win a world cup is that the provinces are stronger than the national body. The same situation prevailed in South Africa until 2017 then it changed the provinces were forced to allow national players to have set rest periods. Then SA won back to back WC's and they changed the whole complection of the Springbok team. Long may the provinces rule in France. We really don't care as long as we do not have to compete with the best possible version of France in World Cups.
If a country think club rugby is more important than a WC, then they don't deserve it to win a WC. Change the club competition, shorten the season, but understand that clubs is not the priority. It is important for the A team to build together as a team and come and win three consecutive difficult games. Only then you can win a WC.
Even more ,if this team must play in USA...
This year the B team made the same thing than NZ ,SA and OZ, they won a game in Argentina, and the serie whith it....
i dont think that was his point. what he is saying is that home world cups are very rare so almost always are like away "tours" so if the French dont do away games with a full strength they not using that opportunity of an away tour to win and grow in that way. They play 6 nations and home autumn series. Im not adding a comment to attack in any way and i understand the top14 situation. Just traditional sharing of thought in the comment section
Yes, France WON'T send their A-Team and France will also NEVER WIN THE WC. Instead of planning around the tours, they refuse to. Can't win the WC away from home, can't win it at home. However good France is, they will also ALWAYS be only a top 6 team. That is their legacy. The best chance of any French man ever have of winning a WC medal, it will have to be through a coach. France will never win the big gong. Unless the French change, THAT will never change.