Rugby: French team lambasted after surrender to England

France, the nemesis of the All Blacks at the 2007 World Cup, are themselves facing intense criticism after their loss to England last week.

By the time this is read, France should likely have beaten Italy in their last Six Nations game in the early hours of the morning.

However, they seem an unhappy team and pressure is piling on coach Marc Lievremont and his players - like Sebastien Chabal, heavily criticised for his meek performance in the 34-10 surrender to England last weekend. Chabal described the squad as far from buoyant and that there had been little talking among the players.

Chabal has objected to the criticism in the French media as "too harsh" and "too strong" though he accepts that his team were very poor, especially in the first half.

The defeat to England hurt and has cast doubts over the future of the head coach, forcing the president of French Rugby Federation, Pierre Camou, to issue a vote of confidence. Lievremont has so far won seven and lost seven in the 14 games since his appointment after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

He has mixed and matched in an effort to bring on new players, but the gross inconsistency is a cause for serious concern.

Up until the Twickenham debacle, Lievremont had been the personification of a measured coach. His team had contributed to the tournament's best game, in losing narrowly to Ireland, backed up by wins over Scotland and Wales.

However, he said, after returning from Twickenham, that he was "fed up" and that he wanted to be far from his players. "We have a feeling of frustration, shame, anger and fury."

Lievremont has tried not to blame individuals for the "collective collapse," but he has omitted four players from last week's starting XV in wing Julian Malzieu, centre Mathieu Bastareaud, lock Jerome Thion and prop Lionel Faure.

Chabal was moved into the second row alongside captain Lionel Nallet while Lievremont has increased the Toulouse contingent by fielding Florian Fritz at centre and recalling French rugby's "prodigal son" Frederic Michalak among the substitutes.

He has returned from an 18-month stint in South Africa and is expected to play a part for a team desperate to continue an unbeaten record over Italy in the Six Nations.