Even if he holds on to his job, things don’t sound fantastic for Philippe Saint-Andre.
Reports last night suggested the France squad had done a “Raymond Domenech” on their coach and taken charge themselves ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand in Cardiff.
While respected rugby newspaper Midi Olympique questions the likelihood of this mutiny, French rugby fans will not be heartened by their reasoning.
Instead of dismissing the rumours due to the squad’s togetherness and faith in their coach, the paper says such self-determination is unlikely because of the players’ lack of character.
The paper says the group of players that lost 24-9 to Ireland in Cardiff last Sunday are “without character, without soul, without fire, without big personalities”.
While L’Equipe quotes a member of Saint-Andre’s staff, describing the rumours as a “tissue of lies” it would seem the French are not a happy camp.
Disunity, licking their wounds after a big defeat and playing the world champions next at the site of one of their greatest triumphs – it’s all set up for one of those monumental French moments.
Or the mother and father of all hidings.
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