Ireland must beware French renaissance at World Cup, warns Jake White

South Africa’s World Cup-winning coach Jake White has warned Ireland that France are a completely different proposition than meeting them in the Six Nations.

White, now director of coaching at Montpellier, said that France adopt a completely different approach to the World Cup and that is the primary reason they have been so successful.

France’s worst finish came when Philipe Saint-Andre was on the wing and they were knocked out by England in the quarter-finals in 1991. That is the only tournament they have failed to make the semi-finals and White said that while they have never lifted the Webb Ellis Cup, finishing three times as runners-up, twice in third and once in fourth can’t be ignored.