What the French papers say

“The same as Cardiff” is the headline in L’Equipe after France named an unchanged team to face England after the quarter-final victory over New Zealand, but those words could also apply to the mood within the camp.

The mood in the French press this week has been one of grim determination, a sense that the team can not afford to allow the euphoria of victory over the All Blacks to effect their preparations, and the players are repeating the mantra. 

An interview with Thierry Dusautoir carries the headline “It will be even harder” as the Toulouse and France flanker weighs up the added pressure of expectation.

“It will be even harder because we are expected to take our chance,” he tells the same paper. “Last week, you could have forgiven us for many things. I don’t think that you would forgive us losing to the English. What’s more, they are a bit like us. Everyone thought they would be knocked out in the quarter-finals and they are here. They will give their everything against us. It’s a different pressure. I don’t think you can say we are favourites – they beat the finalist from the last World Cup.”

The sports paper appeared to approve of the decision to stick with a winning team. Jo Maso, the team manager, asked: “Who didn’t perform against the All Blacks?”

The position of Lionel Beauxis at fly half had come under threat from Frederic Michalak, who made an impact from the substitutes’ bench against the All Blacks, but there are few qualms about sticking with Beauxis. Bernard Laporte said: “Lionel produced a satisfying performance [against New Zealand]. He played intelligently, without taking risks. What’s more he has an essential weapon: his kicking.”

With Jonny Wilkinson mentioned frequently in dispatches, kicking is expected to play a crucial role in the semi-final. Beauxis has been keeping his feet on the ground, though, and is relaxed about the possibility of facing Wilkinson.

Asked how his team would play, Beauxis was discretion itself. “The same tactics as against the All Blacks? Yes and no, we’ll see. We’re going to concentrate on our game.”

If there has been none of the ill-judged public outbursts that dominated the build-up to England’s quarter-final with Australia, it may be because of the mutual respect between the players.

Raphael Ibanez, who played alongside the likes of Vickery, Worsley, Dallaglio, Sackey and Shaw at Wasps, knows all about the abilities of his erstwhile team-mates. However, in an interview with Le Figaro he admits that he never expected to be facing them at this stage. “When we left our club to start preparing for the tournament, we wished each other good luck, but we didn’t imagine that we would meet again in the semi-finals of the competition.”

FInd out what the French papers were saying yesterday by clicking here.