Expect Saint-André’s France to grind teams down before throwing off the shackles

IN A week when we all became more knowledgeable about French rugby in the wake of Jonny Sexton’s big move to Racing Metro, pressure continues to mount on national coach Philippe Saint-André to win the Six Nations with what is regarded as the strongest squad in the competition.

The 45-year-old is set to take France into his second Championship after filling the vacuum left by Marc Lievremont’s departure after the 2011 World Cup. Saint-André’s nickname here in France is Le Goret (The Piglet) from his days as a brilliant try-scoring winger for France. He has 69 test caps and captained his country on 34 occasions.

With Martin Johnson gone, he is the most decorated player now coaching a top tier nation. Despite easily having the best CV for the job given his vast coaching experience with Gloucester, Sale Sharks, Bourgoin and Toulon, he hasn’t been universally accepted by the French rugby public as the man to steer Les Bleus towards the next World Cup cycle.