Laporte gets support from federation

Despite protestations from former French coaches Pierre Berbizier and Pierre Villpreux, Bernard Lapasset, the President of the French Rugby Federation, has given his full support to Bernard Laporte.

The French media have been shaken up by France's 45-6 capitulation to New Zealand last Saturday.

"Nobody's position is being questioned. Bernard Laporte and the coaching staff have our full confidence through to 2007," Lapasset told l'Equipe sports daily.

"When the opposition comes up with something different, we're unable to change our game plan," he admitted.

But he hoped France could bounce back, like they did from a 52-10 defeat to Nick Mallet's South Africa in 1997 to reach the 1999 World Cup final.