Pelous: Cardiff clash ‘a blessing’ for French

FRANCE may grumble at the inconvenience of playing their World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff, but for Fabien Pelous it is a blessing to face New Zealand overseas.

Defeat to Argentina in the tournament curtain raiser has left France with the knockout match they dreaded most — the favourites at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow.

The team is paying the price for the French Rugby Federation’s willingness to award matches to other nations in order to win the hosting rights.