Rugby World Cup: "Just happiness'' for French coach

Marc Lievremont. Photo / Getty Images

The ripple of applause from a section of the French media as Marc Lievremont entered a packed press conference on Saturday night told the story.

Only hours earlier many of those same people were in the middle of a feud with the French coach but 80 minutes of rugby on Saturday night changed perceptions. They might not like the guy but Lievremont had earned a begrudging respect for the way his team played in ousting England 19-12 and progress to their fifth consecutive Rugby World Cup semifinal.

They were committed, passionate, skillful and, crucially, still alive. England were not.

France have often produced stunning efforts at World Cups in the past, not least of all their wins over the All Blacks in 2007 and 1999, but there were many who doubted this team had that ability given their divisiveness off the field and lack of results on it _ a week previously they were humbled by Tonga.

But history has also shown France rarely back up a great performance at a World Cup. Their volatility makes them dangerous and difficult to predict but they can just as easily unravel.

In the 1999 final they were a shadow of the semifinal side that roared past the All Blacks and were easily beaten 35-12 by Australia. Four years ago, they were beaten 14-9 by an average England side in the semifinals.

Lievremont was well aware of that fact and didn't know if his side were capable of winning the World Cup. He wasn't being difficult - he's done that enough throughout the tournament and had promised himself ahead of fronting the media he wouldn't be smug or seek vindication.

"It is just happiness,'' he said through a translator.

"The players have really performed and excited and fulfilled their part of the contract. They have played as well as past generations. But in the past we have often seen French teams get themselves in a strong position and then after that failed. We will see if this particular team want to do the same as past generations or this team wants to write their own story.''

In 88 tests between France and Wales, Les Bleus have won 42 and Wales 43 with three draws. France have won the last three, including a 28-9 victory in the Six Nations in March, but this Wales side under Warren Gatland have evolved to be one of the most exciting in world rugby.

They are certainly more consistent than France, with their only loss in the World Cup a narrow 17-16 defeat to South Africa in their opening match of the tournament.

But France have found belief, one of the most important commodities of any successful side, and captain Thierry Dusautoir said it came after some serious self-examination.

"I think most of us were missing out on an extraordinary opportunity to play in a World Cup for our country,'' he said. "This is quite unique and it's the sort of experience that might only come around once in a lifetime.

"Those defeats [to New Zealand and Tonga] made us realise what was going on. It was a real eye-opener. I don't know if it was beautiful or extraordinary rugby [we played against England] but we had 22 players who really wanted to go on in this competition.

"That's wonderful, but now we have to get ready for a semifinal. But obviously we are happier than last week.''

It's just a question of how long that lasts ... with both the team and French media.