Ibanez wary of revived Red Rose

FRANCE captain Raphael Ibanez believes this Saturday’s World Cup semi-final against England is “a bigger challenge” than their last-eight clash with the tournament favourites New Zealand.

Les Bleus produced the shock of the competition by defeating the world’s top-ranked team — the mighty All Blacks — 20-18 in Cardiff last Saturday, and are now being tipped to go on and claim their first world crown.

They now face an England side who have gradually improved as the tournament has gone on, and who showed their desire to hold on to their crown by seeing off much-fancied Australia 12-10 in Marseille at the weekend.