Team of the year

France to test World Cup hopes in Six Nations

PARIS (AP) -- What a difference a season makes.

Barely two years ago, France was washed out, wallowing with minnows Italy at the bottom of Six Nations rugby. The coach said Les Bleus boozed and smoked too much. Fans were losing interest.

Then, with 33 different players rotating through France jerseys in just nine months, came a remarkable turnaround.

From also-rans in 2001, France finished 2002 the Six Nations champions, with the added luster of a Grand Slam.

Boosted in November by the return of zippy little back Thomas Castaignede, it marched on to a record hammering of the Springboks, a drubbing of Canada and an even-honors tie with the mighty All Blacks.

Rugby's governing body named France the team of 2002.

Now, in a World Cup year, the question is: has French rugby, so long admired for its flow and flair, peaked too early or is it hitting its stride just when winning really counts?

And will the team cope without towering prop Pieter De Villiers? The South African-born pillar of France's front row, with 28 caps, looks likely to miss the entire Six Nations following revelations Wednesday that he tested positive for cocaine and Ecstasy in a Dec. 18 doping control.

The acid test for France comes Feb. 15, when the Six Nations champions begin their defense against old rivals England at their stronghold home ground of Twickenham.

If France, runners-up to Australia at the 1999 World Cup, want a shot at the title in November, it knows it must make a habit of downing Clive Woodward's men. Last year, it beat England 20-15 in Paris.

"We don't have the world's best team," forthright French coach Bernard Laporte said at pre-match training. "We know Australia, New Zealand and England are ahead of us. It's for us to make up the gap in time for the World Cup."

Three words sum up the secret of France's revived fortunes: defense, defense, defense. It's a skill they've continued to hone in pre-Six Nations training this winter.

Great tackling was key to France's defeat of England last year.

That win erased a record 48-19 humiliation by the English a year earlier that had prompted Laporte to complain that his players "must give up drinking and smoking if they are to go further."

A shock 28-27 loss to Argentina in June suggests France has yet to shed its habit of succumbing to lesser sides. Back-to-back losses to Australia, again in June, and a failure to put the All Blacks away in their 20-20 tie in November, also indicate that the French do not yet pose a consistent threat to the southern hemisphere's best.

Nevertheless, they insist they're on track.

"Over the past three years, we progressed in three areas. Firstly, in our behavior. We used to be flamboyant but gave away points. Now, we're exemplary. Secondly, defense -- which is an act of solidarity -- is uniting the team. And finally, we win," said team manager Jo Maso.

But, "We've got our feet on the ground and enough humility to understand that we had an exceptional season. We have still got a lot of progress to make to position ourselves long-term among the world's best teams."

Regular captain and scrum half Fabien Galthie, the International Rugby Board's player of 2002, is again expected to anchor the squad of 22 veterans and fresher talents unveiled Thursday by France.

At 33, this World Cup season could be Galthie's last. Yet, with 52 caps, he remains central to French success. Last year's losses to Argentina and Australia, and shaky wins over Italy and Wales at the start of the Six Nations all came without him.

The loss of De Villiers, who risks a life ban if a second test confirms he took drugs, left an opening for veteran Christian Califano, recalled to the squad after 19 months. The Saracens prop, with 65 caps, has not played for France since a 37-12 test match loss to the All Blacks in June 2001.

He is expected to join Jean-Jacques Crenca and veteran hooker Raphael Ibanez on the front row. Behind them, Imanol Harinordoquy, Serge Betsen and highly rated flanker Olivier Magne make an imposing back row. Laporte first drafted Harinordoquy against Wales in the Six Nations last February.

On the wings, Laporte called on Aurelien Rougerie and hot rookie Vincent Clerc, who scored a try in his debut, a 30-10 record win over the Springboks in November, and added two more against Canada, his third cap.

Rougerie, whose first game came in another 20-10 beating of South Africa in November 2001, is coming back from a serious larynx injury.

Castaignede's comeback followed two years out with an Achilles tendon rupture that required four operations. He replaced injured New Zealand-born star Tony Marsh, whose partnership with Damien Traille was key to France's Grand Slam success.

Flyhalfs Francois Gelez and Gerald Merceron compete for the kicker's spot. Gelez's missed kicks cost France victory in the tie with the All Blacks and Merceron replaced him against Canada.

 

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