KEY POINTS:
French manager Jo Maso knows plenty about rugby, the psychology of the game and when to retreat behind his Gallic shrug.
He is a shaggy-haired, engaging man, friendly with New Zealand selector Sir Brian Lochore, a gifted midfield back whose flair was the envy of New Zealand in
the '60s and '70s.
He is a permanent right-hand man for French coach Bernard Laporte, though you wonder whether they have a confluence of philosophy with the modern side's apparent preference for kicking rather than the thrilling handling of Maso's era.
It is a question to run past Maso, but he dodges with that jink which used to have rival defenders wondering where he went in the then traditional blue French uniform.
But he is back with another impish grin, a shrug, a purse of the lips and an answer.
"We have a lot of strength in the French backs and we use a number of ways to play," he said. "Just remember [Jonny] Wilkinson and if we win then it is all okay, non?
"We missed out against the Pumas but we are improving, we have had some sweet moves and are using the ball more."
The French selectors spent an earthy few hours in discussion before they unveiled their quarter-final lineup and chess-like intentions.
Young Lionel Beauxis was picked at five-eighths because of his stronger kicking game ahead of the flighty Frederic Michalak, while midfielder Damien Traille was shifted to fullback because of his boot.
"We need a good kicking game," Laporte said. "New Zealand keep you in your half so we need to go out quickly and play in their half of the field."
The 21-year-old Beauxis plays for the Stade Francais club but is only third-choice five-eighths there behind David Skrela, who is also in the national squad, and the Pumas' Juan Martin Hernandez.
Traille has played 10 club games at fullback but never for his country.
"It is nothing new for Damien," Laporte said.
"He said it was okay. If he said 'no', he would not have played fullback. There is no risk."
Experience has been boosted, though, with the return of former captain Fabien Pelous at lock where he will play his 117th international.
Observers of French rugby wonder if Laporte has ever regained his full composure since the All Blacks thumped his side 45-6 in Paris in 2004. Twin defeats by the All Blacks in France last year did not help.
Laporte has made regular changes to his side without apparently stemming some of the frailty.
But kicking may be his best option in this quarter-final, where he can ask his players to find touch and then attack the All Black lineout or bomb the back three.
The danger is that if Beauxis is inaccurate or the French chasing line cannot pressure Leon MacDonald, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Joe Rokocoko, the tournament hosts will be exposed to counter-attacks.
