The French have outlined their programme for the run-in to the World Cup. They mean business.
It isn’t so much the two warm-up games announced (see below), it is the intensive sequence of training sessions that precede it.
Annick Hayraud often mentioned the lack of time the staff had in assembling the full group for practice. Now she is no longer in charge (merely the manager), she may feel slightly envious that the new boss, Thomas Darracq, is able to put together such an extensive programme.
The French have to deal with a monkey on their back: not once have they reached a World Cup final, despite being almost perennial semi-finalists
Like England, they have abandoned all thoughts of a preparatory visit to Arotearoa. Inevitably the problem was to find sensible alternatives. England settled for the USA and Wales, France for Italy.
Le Azzurre do have an additional match arranged, against Canada on 24 July at Langford.
“All-out attack’ or ‘Take it easy”?
The coaches have a tricky balance to keep: on the one hand they want all the squad to be match-sharp; on the other they want to avoid injuries at all costs. No easy solution presents itself.
What remains unknown is the plans the competing nations have once they arrive in Auckland. France will have more than a fortnight to fill; will they keep themselves to themselves? Will the eleven others?
Programme:
18-20 July: training course at Marcoussis
31 July – 9 August: training course at Marcoussis
14-24 August: training course at Andorra
30 August – 11 September: training course at Nice
3 September: test match v italy, Stade des Arboras, Nice
9 September: test match v Italy (venue TBA)
11 September: announcement of the 32 players to represent France at the RWC
22 September: departure for New Zealand
