French coach rues missing leaders and lack of spirit

BAFFLED French coach Bernard Laporte claimed yesterday that one reason for his side’s slide from Grand Slam champions to also-rans was the lack of leadership displayed by his senior players.

The 38-year-old said the loss of his southern hemisphere recruits, Kiwi centre Tony Marsh, who has been recovering from a long term injury, and South African prop Pieter de Villiers, suspended for taking ecstasy and cocaine, has been a huge factor in France’s decline.

“When we present the opposition with so many points one has to consider this defeat as a step backwards,” said the former Stade Francais handler somewhat ungraciously after the match.

“Those points we considered our strengths have become our weaknesses, such as discipline.

“However above all we are missing the players who, like Fabien Pelous, can act as examples to the other players.

“We saw that when we toured Argentina last June. When we miss players of the calibre of Pieter, Fabien and Tony, who are exemplary in their behaviour, the spirit isn’t the same.

“Certain players’ levels of performance have slipped. Why? That is the question we will put to them.

“Happily we had the defence to hold us up.”

Laporte made no bones that there would be changes for the next match with Italy in Rome in a fortnight.

Players such as hooker and former captain Raphael Ibanez, flanker Serge Betsen and prop Jean-Jacques Crenca have been highlighted as three performers whose level has slipped markedly.

However it is the flyhalf position which is seen as the major weak point.

Gerard Merceron is out of form and Francois Gelez showed on Saturday he lacks the nerve for the big occasion.

“It doesn’t mean I am going to drop 10 players just for the sake of it,” said Laporte, the former Bordeaux-Begles scrum-half, who was never capped by his country.

“However I am going to increase the squad, though I still believe I already have 80% of the 30-strong group I will take to the World Cup finals.”

Laporte said it wasn’t so much the personnel who required changing as the state of mind of several of the players.

“It is the attitude that must change,” he said.

“What is missing are natural leaders. One can say the squad lives happily together during the week leading up to the matches.

"They joke together and get on well... but that is not enough at this level.

"What is important is to answer the question: who will lead the others to a great performance? That is what interests me.”

Laporte was undecided whether he would select young tyro from Toulouse, the France A player Frederic Michalak from Toulouse at flyhalf after his display in the 29-19 victory over Ireland A on Friday the coolness under pressure Gelez lacked.

“I don’t know,” said the coach. “I want to see the video of the A match first. They tell me he was good.

“However, there is still the same problem because it is necessary to try and find the balance between the passing game and someone capable of kicking points.

“On the other side we picked Gelez for his goalkicking and he succeeded in only four out of his seven attempts.

“If he had made them all we would have won the match,” added Laporte, who believes Ireland have the necessary skill and mental strength to overcome England in the final game of the RBS Six Nations Championship on March 29.

“I don’t see any reason why they cannot do so. They have a quality side and a lot of confidence. They defend well and they can attack well and score tries also.”