France have settled into Wales’ training base in the Vale of Glamorgan, adorning a patch of grass in front of the hotel with a large Allez Les Bleus sign, even if they failed to have removed a Wales flag fluttering above it. But their head coach Philippe Saint-André said his players were “starving” before Sunday’s group decider at the Millennium Stadium.
He was not referring to the food at the four-star establishment but France’s appetite for success at the World Cup having reached the semi-finals in six tournaments out of seven. They have won their past five matches, two warm-ups and three pool games, having triumphed only eight times in the four Six Nations tournaments since they reached the 2011 final, rumbling into form at the right time.
“Our players tend to be knackered come February,” Saint-André said, when asked to explain the discrepancy between France’s form in a World Cup compared to that in between tournaments. “They play 40 matches a season and we have only a few days together before the start of a World Cup when there are invariably numerous injuries. I have had them for three months now and it is a different team.
“Ireland are very focused about their national side but our focus is once every four years and the players are starving to play the game on Sunday. Ireland are a good team. They have not lost to us for four years so defeat would be a big blow for them. There is no pressure on us.”
Saint-André swatted away a question about whether France would pay the Ireland outside-half Jonathan Sexton close attention, as they did in Dublin last February, but his selection of a full-back, Brice Dulin, on the left-wing suggests France expect an aerial assault.
“We know Ireland have a good kicking game, but we are focused on how we want to play,” said the France full-back Scott Spedding, who won his first cap last November, seven years after arriving in the country as a back-packer from South Africa at the age of 21. “We are aware of the fact that no one has gone on to win the World Cup having lost a pool match so we want to top the group. We have not spoken about the quarter-finals yet because all that matters is what we take out of Sunday’s game.”
France’s focus can be gauged from their reaction to seeing the Wales team coach on the drive of their hotel when they arrived last weekend. The driver had parked it up overnight ready for the Wales squad to return from a day off to travel to London but was ordered to remove it from the grounds having offered to hide it at the top of the car park.
Ireland continue with Keith Earls at outside-centre with Jared Payne injured. There are three changes from the side that defeated Italy 16-9 last weekend: Rob Kearney replaces Simon Zebo at full-back, Cian Healy takes over from Jack McGrath at loose-head prop and Devin Toner comes in for Iain Henderson in the second row. Twelve of the side started February’s 18-11 victory over France.
