Pape wants France to rediscover trademark finesse

Captain Pascal Pape insists France care more about finishing their Six Nations campaign in style than silencing the critics.

The Stade Francais lock shrugged off the constant stream of media criticism against coach Philippe Saint-Andre’s pragmatic approach. France laboured to a 19-17 win over Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend, struggling at both scrum and line-out. France can still swipe the Six Nations crown in today’s title-decider against Ireland in Paris, and Pape has called on his side to rediscover their trademark finesse.

“We are far more focused on our performance than what is being said about us,” said 33-year-old lock Pape.