New Zealand rugby folk are deeply suspicious when they hear tales of woe around the French team. The reasons are well documented.
While the All Blacks beat France in the inaugural cup final, they were smeared across Twickenham by a magnificent half hour in 1999, and blew the quarter-final in Cardiff four years ago.
A few months before both tests, France had come to New Zealand and been well dusted. They had no hope come World Cup time - or so the thinking went.
This time, the countries will meet in pool play at Eden Park. The match is a sellout and will clearly be the hardest examination for both teams before the knockout.
France's World Cup history is pretty solid. They've made two finals, losing in 1987 and 1999; their worst result was 1991 when they were beaten in the quarter-finals by England.
At times of late France have been seriously average. They were second in the Six Nations this year, but suffered a humiliating 22-21 loss to Italy in Rome, after leading 18-6 with half an hour left.
That prompted a spectacular eruption from coach Marc Lievremont, accusing his players of "cowardice".
"They betrayed us, they have betrayed me and they have betrayed the French national team shirt," he roared.
Which immediately raises the issue of how much France will be prepared to bend their backs for a coach who is also toast after the tournament, to be replaced by former test captain Philippe Saint-Andre.
And that is where captain Thierry Dusautoir comes in.
He's a bright man and a fine player. Importantly, he knows what it's like to lead France to victory over the All Blacks.
He did it in Cardiff four years ago and at Carisbrook on their 2009 tour. He is one of 13 survivors from 2007.
So, what to expect. Talented backs, with size and speed, such as Aurelien Rougerie, Cedric Heymans, Maxime Medard and Vincent Clerc.
Francois Trinh-Duc will run the cutter from first five-eighth; Morgan Parra is a resourceful, goalkicking halfback.
The big Basque Imanol Harinordoquy, when on song, is a formidable proposition; Julien Bonnaire, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Louis Picamoles, newcomer Raphael Lakafia and the skipper offer flanking options, and France should be solid at both lineout and scrum.
It's all about knitting it all together. In the past that has tended to trouble France, whose problems are often more mental than physical.
"Anyone who can turn up and win in New Zealand will truly go down in history," Dusautoir said.
"We beat New Zealand two years ago. This means that it is possible and that we can do it.
"When you start the competition, you have to remember that."
So here's a leader with a sense of history, and an appreciation of what it will mean to win in New Zealand.
Peter Bills on France:
Uncertain in their approach, inconsistent in strategy, too often mentally fragile - this, believe it or not, is the nation that has broken New Zealand hearts at most recent World Cups.
Many Kiwis are alarmed at the prospect of another mugging when they meet their old nemesis in a pool match this time. They needn't be. France will come up short at this World Cup.
At club level, they've largely deserted their rich heritage of fast, inventive, attacking rugby. That means scant chance the national team will play that way.
"Les Bleus" have settled for a sort of halfway house; not obsessed with forward power as in the days of Jacques Fouroux but not a patch on the sides coached by Pierre Villepreux and Jean-Claude Skrela in the late 1990s, when they won successive Grand Slams and terrified opponents with their dazzling attacking style.
The players often perform under Marc Lievremont as if they don't know what they should be doing, and still less believe in his plans.
Fixtures:
Pool A:
Saturday September 10 v Japan, North Harbour Stadium (Auckland)
Sunday September 18 v Canada, Hamilton (Waikato Stadium)
Saturday September 24 v New Zealand, Eden Park (Auckland)
Saturday October 1 v Tonga, Wellington Regional Stadium (Wellington)
- HERALD ONLINE
