Person: Philippe Saint-Andre

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Johne Murphy: "I think mentally now there probably needs to be a shift, that it doesn’t become a huge drain on them when they do get to another semi-final, which is hopefully in the not too distant future.” Photo: Dan Sherida/INPHPO

rugby

Murphy: Springbok spice may be Munster’s missing ingredient

Johne Murphy is hopeful the signing of World Cup winners Damian de Allende and RG Snyman for next season can help Munster finally bridge the gap to European rugby’s elite.

rugby

A certain je ne sais quoi for France in Six Nations opening

rugby

Alun-Wyn Jones warns against attempts to blunt rugby’s physical edge

rugby

Bludgeon first, flair later for new French supremo Noves

rugby

Jean-Marc Doussain talks up Irish half-back combination

rugby

Guy Noves can’t wait to see Virimi Vakatawa in action

Return of arrogant England we love to hate

Welcome back England, we missed you, writes Brendan O’Brien

Fri, 05 Feb, 2016

Peter Jackson: Saracens are praying for Paris

Thierry Dusautoir will probably have heard of Vince Lombardi, the revered American football coach whose treasure-trove of homespun sayings includes one of striking relevance to the shattered captain of France: ‘’It’s not whether you get knocked down. It’s whether you get back up.’’

Mon, 16 Nov, 2015

Ireland's Sean O’Brien doesn’t regret lashing out at Pascal Papé in game against France

Sitting out Ireland’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat by Argentina due to suspension was tough to take but there is a little bit of Sean O’Brien that doesn’t regret lashing out at Pascal Papé in the opening minutes of the final pool game against France.

Fri, 13 Nov, 2015

French problems run deeper than latest flop

A meeting of mopeds and Ferraris.

Mon, 19 Oct, 2015

Argentina prepare to get serious

The car park serving the Vale of Glamorgan report is always awash with cars, but the scope of the place swallows up the many residents and customers. It makes for a relaxing countryside retreat, far from the madding crowd of Cardiff, where Ireland are stationed this week.

Sat, 17 Oct, 2015

Mischievous All Black boss Hansen takes aim at French

What was Steve Hansen thinking?

Fri, 16 Oct, 2015

Sean O’Brien set to discover fate after Pape spat

Seán O’Brien will learn his Rugby World Cup fate today after being cited for striking French lock Pascal Pape during Sunday’s Pool D-clinching win in Cardiff.

Tue, 13 Oct, 2015

Black mood as French media struggles to find positives

Noir. That’s the word used by both Midi Olympique and L’Equipe in their Monday editions to describe France’s crushing defeat on Sunday at the hands of Ireland in Cardiff.

Tue, 13 Oct, 2015

Sonny Bill all praise for French coach

By Brendan O’Brien

Mon, 12 Oct, 2015

VIDEO: Victory to be savoured before next challenge

Ireland 24 France 9: Let us delay talk of Argentina and quarter-finals for a moment, this victory over the French needs to be savoured.

Mon, 12 Oct, 2015

We’ll need Sexton at his influential best

The issues and decisions that will impact tomorrow’s tournament-defining clash with France...

Sun, 11 Oct, 2015

VIDEO: Collective ready to deliver for Joe Schmidt

Alittle bit of luck, some inspiration from Martin O’Neill’s footballing heroes and a firm belief in the collective strength of his own players.

Sun, 11 Oct, 2015

Scott Spedding: Both sides will start at zero

Unbeaten records, recent meetings: forget about them.

Sat, 10 Oct, 2015

Bernard Le Roux: I could tell Sexton was struggling

It’s good to talk. To really talk.

Fri, 09 Oct, 2015

Louis Picamoles 'tossed me aside as nonchalantly as a Parisian flicking a Gitanes butt onto the Champs d'Elysees’

France’s No 8 may be comparatively small, but Louis Picamoles has a habit of humiliating those who underestimate him

Fri, 09 Oct, 2015

French planning to ‘hunt down’ Johnny Sexton

He may have packed his bags and left Paris for good, but Jonathan Sexton continues to hold a fascination for the French, some of whom have made no secret of their intent to target the Ireland number ten ahead of Sunday’s Pool D meeting between the sides in Cardiff.

Thu, 08 Oct, 2015

Divided loyalties but Uini Atonio living the dream with France

Uini Atonio has a great story and he tells it well.

Thu, 08 Oct, 2015

Dave Kearney confident minor tweaks will release mojo

First Wales, then England. Now Italy.

Tue, 06 Oct, 2015

French beef with style-conscious media over ‘beautiful and tough’ boys in green

It was their coach four years ago. This time it is the media.

Tue, 06 Oct, 2015

Edgy Ireland repel Sergio Parisse powerplay

Ireland 16 Italy 9: JOE SCHMIDT had a feeling things would get tougher when Ireland’s World Cup bandwagon eventually ran into Italy.

Mon, 05 Oct, 2015

Ponderous French crack Canucks as Ireland loom

France 41 Canada 18: Another comfortable margin on the scoreboard for France, but doubts hang over Philippe Saint-Andre’s side ahead of their final Pool D encounter with Ireland on Sunday week after a workmanlike defeat of Canada in stadium:mk last night.

Fri, 02 Oct, 2015

Philippe Saint-Andre keeps stars on their toes

Pool D: France v Canada

Thu, 01 Oct, 2015

Saint-Andre reshuffles as French ready for ‘physical’ Canada test

It may be that France are unpredictable in most things, but there were few surprises yesterday when coach Philippe Saint-Andre made 12 changes to his side for tomorrow’s Pool D tie against Canada at Milton Keynes.

Wed, 30 Sep, 2015

Bastareaud ignores grumbling back home

Seeing may be believing, but the eyes tell lies, too.

Tue, 29 Sep, 2015

Arsene Wenger says soccer can learn from rugby

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes football can still learn a thing or two from the team ethics of rugby union.

Sat, 26 Sep, 2015

Why Joe Schmidt has Irish squad singing off his hymn-sheet

Strategically speaking, Ireland were as impressive as any nation in the first round of games, writes Ronan O’Gara

Fri, 25 Sep, 2015

Johnny Sexton wary of French strength in depth

France resume their Pool D campaign at the Olympic Stadium against Romania tonight with Johnny Sexton declaring Philippe Saint-Andre’s side “the best they’ve looked in years”.

Wed, 23 Sep, 2015

Frederic Michalak: ‘I was the only one who believed that I could be here’

France 32 Italy 10: There were just four minutes to go on Saturday night when Frederic Michalak’s number came up.

Mon, 21 Sep, 2015

France aim to go distance

‘Croydon-sur-Seine’, read the headlines.

Sat, 19 Sep, 2015

Rugby World Cup lift-off: Four things to watch for

Irish Examiner rugby columnist, Donal Lenihan, highlights the things to look out for as you enjoy the opening weekend of Rugby World Cup 2015.

Sat, 19 Sep, 2015

French preparations hit an unlikely speed bump

France’s World Cup preparations hit an unlikely speed bump in the shape of a Croydon wedding party.

Tue, 15 Sep, 2015

Noisy wedding party means France are staying in heartbreak hotel

France’s World Cup preparations hit an unlikely speed bump in the shape of a Croydon wedding party.

Mon, 14 Sep, 2015

I donned the bullet-proof vest, says Philippe Saint-Andre

Coach Philippe Saint-Andre urged French rugby supporters to cast aside their doubts about him and rally behind his squad as they head to England for the rugby World Cup.

Mon, 14 Sep, 2015

Ireland must beware moody Bleus, warns All Black hero

Former All Black Zinzan Brooke has warned that France will aim to peak for their crunch World Cup pool match with Ireland next month.

Thu, 10 Sep, 2015

Searching for solace as D-Day looms

How quickly things change. Back-to-back Six Nations champions Ireland appeared in rude health heading into this World Cup when they dispatched Wales with consummate ease only four weeks ago.

Wed, 09 Sep, 2015

Scotland nearly snatch a win in France

Scrappy Scotland were denied a smash-and-grab win in Paris after France stormed back to claim a 19-16 win in both side’s final match before the World Cup.

Sat, 05 Sep, 2015

French leave out Francois Trinh-Duc for Rugby World Cup squad

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has left out fly-half Francois Trinh-Ducfrom his 31-man World Cup squad, in favour of Frederic Michalak.

Mon, 24 Aug, 2015

Will Joe Schmidt wait for Cian Healy to heal?

As a learning exercise, Saturday’s fraught encounter against Scotland was far more beneficial for Ireland than the rather benign Welsh clash the previous week. Put it this way: Joe Schmidt will have gleaned much and identified far more ‘work-ons’ to keep him busy over the next fortnight.

Wed, 19 Aug, 2015

Report: Woodward in frame for France job