KEY POINTS:
Drug-taking and violent play will be hammered at the World Cup, says the chairman of the organising committee Bernard Lapasset.
There will be tougher drug testing than for any previous World Cup and perpetrators of on-field violence can expect punishment likely to end their involvement in the tournament. France sees this cup as a chance to impress the world, according to Lapasset.
"We have to prove France's capacity to organise big sports events and welcome people from all over the world," said Lapasset.
"We were very disappointed after losing the vote for the 2011 Olympic Games [to London]. This is a really big opportunity for our country to show not only that it can organise successfully such a big event as this, but also demonstrate it is carried out in the right spirit."
And the two non-negotiables in rugby, as far as Lapasset is concerned, are drugs and violence. On the matter of drugs, the French say they have worked closely with the IRB.
"We have adopted a strict policy," said the FFR president. "Rugby is an example for the world of a sport free of drugs and we have to continue that.
"It would be so bad if drugs came in here at this World Cup. We have a strong drug testing system in place to ensure control of this issue. Players have been tested regularly and will be just before the tournament starts and while it is being staged. That is crucial.
"If anyone is taking drugs, please be assured we will find them. And if we find just one case of an international player having taken drugs, he will never again play rugby."
On the subject of violence, Lapasset was horrified by the physical assault on Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll in their recent warm-up match against Bayonne, in the south of France.
"Some players there [at Bayonne] are not good for the spirit of the game and we have to be strong about the process we put in place for this sort of incident if it happened at the World Cup."
Lapasset acknowledges the physical dangers of amateur players confronting highly-tuned professionals in a World Cup.
"Amateur players need at least a year before a World Cup to build themselves up physically to meet professionals. Six months is not enough.
"This issue will be discussed by the IRB and we will prepare some new ideas about the qualifying rounds, so players have time to become stronger before meeting teams like New Zealand."
* Peter Bills is chief rugby correspondent for Independent News & Media in London
