January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
French flair
Team looks to entertain at the World Rugby Classic
The French side is packed with top class internationals and is already being tipped as the favourite to topple champions South Africa from their perch.
But manager Philippe Leveau, who tips the U.S. and the Springboks as the top teams, insists their main objective is to entertain.
Leveau, who can boast the services of a string of world rugby greats, including wingers Emile Ntamack and Philippe Bernat-Salles, knows that his France side have class and pace in abundance.
And he is confident his side can contribute to a classy tournament.
“I hope the tournament will win this year again. I hope all the teams will be successful in showing nice French flair, but I think we have a little advantage for that… nobody is perfect, though.
“I hope all the teams will remember that the spirit of this tournament is to give fun and pleasure to the public.”
He said his team was a mix of players who had reached the pinnacle of the world game, like Ntamack, Michel Marfaing, Olivier Roumat and less experienced players like Jacques Nouaille
He said the blend had proved particularly effective in producing a good bunch of players for this year's tournament.
“It's a very important tournament for the players as a lot of them now ask to come in Bermuda because of the good reports they hear from previous years.
“Newly retired players like the chance to meet up with their old rivals and relax and play some entertaining rugby.”
Organiser John Kane agrees that France will start as one of the pre-tournament favourites, though he is also tipping South Africa to be strong yet again.
The Springboks have brought a formidable line-up, including the likes of hooker Nake Drotske, flanker Rassie Erasmus and scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen, who have more than 100 international caps between them.
“South Africa is definitely going to be one of the strongest. We always seem to end up with a situation where we have a great semi-final that everyone says should have been the final.
“We have tried to keep last year's finalists South Africa and Australia apart in the draw so they could meet in the final.
“But on paper it looks like France will be the strongest challengers. Fortunately they are in the other half of the draw to South Africa so we could see those two teams in the final. But my predictions never seem to be that accurate so you can't say.”
France certainly looks to be the flair team of the tournament and Kane believes Ntamack and Bernat-Salles will be two of the biggest crowd pleasers.
“They are two really exciting players. They are the runners and I think we are going to see some exciting play from them.”
The Classic will dominate the sporting and social calender in Bermuda from when it kicks off with the street party in Bermudiana Road on Saturday through to the finals day next Sunday.[[In-content Ad]]
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