Philippe Saint Andréwas a popular choice to succeed the hapless Marc Lièvremont in 2011. The French rugby public was confident that he could rejuvenate the French national side. But, after two lacklustre 6 Nations campaigns and the 3-0, whitewash in Australia the Midi Olympique christened France, “Nation Mineure”, a minor nation. France national rugby side, a year out from the Rugby World Cup, are in crisis and the national coach is under pressure from all sides.
Saint Andréis an aristocrat of French rugby, multiple trophy winner, scorer of legendary tries a true icon of the game. He has begun to lose the support of the French rugby public supporters’ expectation and anticipation has been replaced by a leaden reality. At no point has Saint André accepted any culpability for the team’s poor results. Yet, with a win record of 40% he has a worse record than any of his predecessors. He has consistently blamed the players never blamed himself for being unable to motivate his players, for fielding teams who lack direction, structure and creation, and for making poor selections and a particular target has been the number of foreign players in the Orange Top14. Strangely he seems to forget that a dozen or so of those players he signed into the league while coach of RC Toulon. But, the league has accepted a limit on how many games their French players can play in a season (34), limits on the number of foreign players and the extended release of players for preparatory camps with the national side. For the first time Saint Andre has a camp in September to prepare for the November internationals. His room for manouvere is narrowing. Despite this there is a growing sense of disquiet that he is operating out of his depth.
The “Spoiled brats of 2011” have largely been removed yet nothing has really changed, there is a sense of inertia, déjà vu around the team. Saint André’s diatribe against the Top14 is a broken record of a man unable to change his mindset or more crucially the mindset of the team. France’s resources are huge, the game awash with money and talent, yet both Wales and Ireland have performed much better than France with considerably less assets. France possesses world class players across the pitch; Dusatoir, Nyanga, Huget, Fofana, Medard to name a few, yet Saint Andrécannot get the best out of them. Perhaps, this can best be explained by his handling of the accomplished Montpellier fly-half François Trinh-Duc. The best most consistent outside half in France is constantly ignored, apparently because he does not suit Saint André and his coaching staff, this despite a brilliant season at Montpellier where the astute Fabien Galthié has built a team around him, and asked him “to just play”.
The debacle of the Australian tour could prove to be a watershed for Saint Andrésince France were reduced to a rabble by the end of the 3rd Test a wave of criticism has begun to build. Saint André’s tenure has been forensically examined and it can be seen that he has failed to build a team or give it as strong and identity. In fairness, since the time of Bernard Laporte France has become a shadow of the team that could play gloriously off the cuff rugby, score tries from anywhere on the pitch. Now they follow an insipid template devoid of inspiration, imagination and passion wedded to discipline and not encouraging their natural inclination to play with individual and collective flair.
The president of the FFR, Pierre Camou has at last recognised the problem or more pertinently with an election on 2016 he realises that he has to do something. His response is to sprinkle some stardust over the French setup. He has appointed the stellar French player Serge Blanco to an unspecified position in support of Saint André, this should be a warning to Saint André, typically though he has underplayed Blanco’s role; “It won`t be too bad a thing to have someone who can take off my hands certain things like the convention (an agreement between the league and the federation over the availability of international players which Blanco negotiated in 2013), and relations with the clubs,” said Saint-Andre.
He was speaking on the side-lines of the women`s rugby World Cup at the French national rugby centre in Marcoussis. Saint Andre along with his assistants Yannick Bru and Patrice Lagisquet met with Blanco briefly at Marcoussis on Tuesday. “Serge had a board meeting here, and I was working with Yannick and Patrice, so we had a coffee together and then he had to leave,” said Saint André. But, he was not happy to be pressed on the subject and refused to elaborate on what exact role Blanco would play. “I have nothing to say on the subject. We will see,” he concluded tersely.
Saint André has to take stock rapidly and prove that he has the resolve and ability for the job. France are not playing anywhere near their potential, weighed down by unrealistic expectations, inadequately prepared or perversely, over coached. If he fails to deliver a remodelled rejuvenated team in November then he will not be France’s coach for the 6 Nations. It is time for Saint André to take note of the words of the great French soldier, Marshall Maurice de Saxe, “The first of all qualities of a general is courage. Without this the others are of little value since they cannot be used.” Saint André has to stand up for his convictions and let his side play the way he wants them to play and accept that he stands or falls on their performance and blame no-one else.
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