Sorry, France No Ooh La La Until You Reach The Semi-finals
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday October 21, 2003
The fine spirals of smoke in the hotel foyer are a giveaway. So, too, the increasingly desperate orders for ``un cafe noir".
The French Rugby World Cup team and their entourage are in town, ensconced at Bondi Beach among the croissants and friands and surf and sun and sand and sex.
Forget that last bit, with wives and girlfriends banned from the tour, l'amour is not on the menu.
Yet, the French have devised an interesting incentive scheme, whereby the players will be allowed visiting rights if the team makes the semi-final stage.
``We saw that the English players were allowed their wives but for us it is not possible, we are not allowed," said the dreamy-eyed hooker Raphael Ibanez.
He brightened momentarily when he remembered that he could communicate with his partner ``with the internet".
And he positively glowed when recounting that ``yes, the wives can come over in case of us qualifying in the semi-finals; either that or we go home then anyway".
But that is only one conundrum the French have uncovered since arriving in Australia. Another is why the host nation is not favourite, given they are world champions from 1999 and still play with the same tactics and strategies.
``What Australia does, it does very well and they are very quick and very strong, everyone knows their qualities," Ibanez said.
``I know that this season they haven't played as well, but we think it will be very hard to beat them. The Australian team should be the favourites simply because they are world champions and they are playing at home. And also perhaps because they may be motivated by the critics there is a lot of pressure, too."
The former captain is keen to finish his French representative career by taking home the William Webb Ellis trophy. If France beats Scotland at Telstra Stadium on Saturday a quarter-final against Ireland or Australia is likely. After that the English should be waiting in a semi-final.
`Les Bleus' are considered underdogs when rated alongside New Zealand, Australia, South Africa or England. Ibanez says the team doesn't mind but thinks it is not deserved.
France's biggest fear? Surprisingly, Ibanez reckons it is themselves their concentration sometimes wanders. Living at Bondi Beach, no wonder.
© 2003 Sydney Morning Herald