#360view: Noves strives for progress and soul of French rugby

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  • Whereas France once personified running rugby on the front foot, Les Bleus coach Guy Noves starts the Six Nations almost in retreat.

    After an underwhelming first year in charge, in which France finished fifth in the northern hemisphere tournament, and won just four matches all year; this tournament takes on a significance beyond maintaining progress towards Japan 2019.

    Noves spent 22 years at the helm of Toulouse, and is unaccustomed to short-termism, but his own future was called in question just 12 months in the job after the appointment of Bernard Laporte as president of the FFR in December.

    This is against the backdrop of a squad shorn of Wesley Fofana, their best and most reliable midfield operator; an opening match against tournament heavyweights England; and distrust in Noves’ defence-first methods which run contrary to the France sides of yesteryear.

    Comparisons will always be made with the past, especially in a country so rich in rugby history but Noves’ decision to break from free-flowing backline bravado of Blanco and Sella and focus on tactical kicking, set-pieces and sustained territory was a sensible but brave one.

    Because what French rugby needs more than anything is a lift and a reassurance of their own relevance on the world stage. Not since 2010 have they won the Six Nations, a tournament they dominated throughout the 2000s – primarily on Laporte’s watch – while the 2015 World Cup was a humbling affair as they hobbled through an easy group and were totally outplayed and outclassed by New Zealand in the quarter-finals.

    The Top 14 remains the premier domestic league in a monetary sense, but standards this year have been down on previous editions. Of the three French sides to have made it through to the knockout stage of the European Champions Cup, it was only Clermont who showed any great consistency; Toulon losing three of their six matches and Toulouse requiring a last day win over Connacht to progress.

    Last year’s runners-up Racing 92 were inexplicably bad, as they have been for much of the season in the Top 14, while Jake White’s military discipline at Montpellier didn’t translate well in Europe and Castres and Bordeaux went through the motions.

    For a league with such heavy resources and quality, it was an embarrassing return. Not that this is Noves’ fault but it now has a knock-on effect and demands are heightened, at least in an emotional and symbolic sense; a bitter twist of irony given the Top 14 has also contributed to the national team’s own decline.

    As predecessor Philippe SaintAndre pointed out on numerous occasions, too many players in key roles at the best clubs are not eligible for Les Bleus. Money has benefitted the Top 14, not French rugby. Like the English Premier League, its wider influence doesn’t exist.

    Noves has named four uncapped players, and has brought the average age of the squad down but his task of blooding this new talent, winning matches and restoring confidence in the French system is not an enviable one.

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