Legend unlocks the true French potential

By DAVID LEGGAT

If you are searching for one of the most important reasons France are threatening to go all the way in this World Cup, take a look at the man who invariably sits beside coach Bernard Laporte.

The studious, bespectacled Laporte has clearly pushed the right buttons to have the French roaring into the semifinals, but many believe the influence of manager Jo Maso is every bit as influential.

Maso has been managing France for several years, working with past coaches, and former team-mates, Pierre Villepreux and Jean-Claude Skrela, until 39-year-old Laporte got the job in 1999 after the last World Cup.

Asked to describe Maso's influence in the camp, one French journalist close to the heart of the operation closed his hand and twisted it. Maso is the key.

The 58-year-old occupies legendary status in French rugby, possibly matched only by the unmatchable fullback Serge Blanco and the celebrated captain and flanker Jean-Pierre Rives.

Perhaps the most gifted of all French backs, Maso played 25 tests from 1966 until 1973, including all three in New Zealand in 1968.

At the last tournament, France were effectively split into two camps - those who were in the top XV and those who weren't.

That had all changed, he said.

"We have worked harder and deeper on the little details in every compartment of the game, which was not the case in 1999," he said, all flapping hands and extravagant gestures. "The attitude is more professional."

Only the French would instigate a system whereby each week a group of players would have a session with the management to air any grievances. The idea is to keep everyone in the loop, not to make those outside the first choice feel unwanted. It was Maso's idea.

"We take what is good and put the rest in the rubbish bin."

Remember, that 1999 team did reach the final, and did demolish the All Blacks with a stunning display in the semifinal at Twickenham. Yet Maso is convinced, if anything, the French are better placed to go one step further this time.

"These players are more mature. Players like Olivier Magne, Raphael Ibanez, Fabien Galthie, Christophe Dominici and Fabien Pelous know exactly what the World Cup is about.

"We've had to harmonise the young, talented players with the old warriors. This team is more articulate, more organised, there are no weaknesses."

And Maso plays down any attempt to blow up the semifinal against England into some form of rugby war. The French don't particularly care for the English - and they don't have that on their own at this tournament - but Maso insisted that was irrelevant.

"If we have to play Australia or New Zealand we have the same motivation, the same way of putting things together as far as tactics are concerned.

"Our supporters? They are different. They really want us to beat England, and the media are boiling up this game. But we see England as a team, not as a concept."

You might say an English team to be defeated, a French concept to be enhanced.