French lieutenants: Who is in charge of French World Cup squad?

No room at the top — touch of farce as France load up on off-field leaders after a disappointing Six Nations. But who is really in charge, asks James Harrington

French rugby has, historically, done mystifying very well — but things have moved to a whole new level in recent months.

Take the World Cup squad announcement. Head coach Jacques Brunel was supposed to name the 31 players who had made the plane to Japan on September 2, during the 8pm news slot on World Cup broadcaster TF1. Two days before the announcement, however, he was suddenly unable to do the show, so it was decided the big reveal would be made by anchorman Gilles Bouleau.