Honour in defeat might keep Laporte in job

THERE is unlikely to be another match where the cliché “a game of two halves” could be more appropriate. This was incredible stuff.

Much had been made also of Bernard Laporte’s philosophy on how to play the game, with the French press and supporters lamenting his abandonment of the beautiful game for discipline and organisation. They were not going to stand for a repeat of their indifferent form and Laporte’s job was unlikely to survive it.