Nick Mallett expressed similar sentiments on tele after the Wales game. He believes the coach is the problem and suggests Ibanez should be national coach.

1st thing: Ibanez is a long way from being ready to be the national coach. 2nd thing: It is ironic that PSD is complaining about the number of foreign players considering that he was the head coach of Toulon, the team which one could say best resembles the united nations and who have the fewest number of French players on the field, before he took the job with the national side. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, he is complaining. Thirdly: a year ago I commented on a post when Wayne Smith spoke about how France was going to win an ugly 6 Nations. My comment is as follows,“I agree with Mr. Smith in his points about the loss of “French Flair” and its loss being partly due to the nature of the French championship. I would however add that the dramatically increased numbers of overseas players, who have not been raised in a “traditional” French rugby atmosphere, and who have taken the spots of French players who have been developed in their clubs in the past, have diluted the notion of the romantic French game. As well, the pressure to win at all costs and the number of wealthy businessman/presidents have made it impossible to develop ant style of game that has any risks. It is not surprising that the two clubs who have maintained a development system as well as a consistent philosophy of play are represented by the greatest number of players; Toulouse and Clermont.” Long story short, I agree entirely with WS, however I would have to slightly change my statements from above as it seems that Clermont and Toulouse are also beginning to fill their rosters with growing numbers of foreign stars. Toulouse for one is suffering from not having a suitable replacement for McCallister nor does Clermont have a second choice for Brock James. And I am not even mentioning the wings, centres, props, second rows etc.

To be fair to Saint Andre, he is in a very good position to complain BECAUSE he was coach of Toulon. It is not the clubs as individual entities that are the problem – after all, why would you not use whatever means to have, to be the best within the rules – it is the Clubs as a group, who presumably drive the set-up and culture of their league. If It needs something of “all for one, and one for all”?one club makes a stand against the problem, then they lose.

As a Frenchman, I agree with all posts above, Wayne Smith and Mark Reason’s points of view. However, I sadly believe that even a large defeat against England, or the wooden spoon wouldn’t do the trick… On the LNR side, Blanco is all too busy securing his legacy (as his business side doesn’t seem to flourish as expected) and the new LNR President, Goze, was the one in favor of a Top16, meaning 4 more games on an already super packed calendar!!! On the other side, instead of investing in quality development of its Youth sections, the FFR and Camou are all too preoccupied building their Pantheon of stadium, as apparently the Stade de France wasn’t good enough, or better yet not lucrative enough. The FFR is trailing behind the other major nations in pretty much all aspects. Finally, when was the last time we saw the Top14 being innovative technically speaking??? Financial and results pressures are such that more and more teams play “minimum” rugby, even a club such as Toulouse is losing its shine…

I agree with the general wont of the article. France has ceased to be France, for a while now, when it remembered beat the All Blacks and left them out of the world cup. Gentlemen, champagne rugby is dead, or at least was long coma. The reasons may be among the pressure to win and the lack of identity of the leaders, because the failure of an organization always on the leaders. I think everyone should play what he feels, what he says his essence. So I think in my country Argentina, when the Pumas base their play on a structure where the difference is made by the talent of their players, are feared opponent for any team. When trying to automate their play and becomes conservative, inevitably fail.

I agree with you Luis but the pressure is such, especially at the Top14 level, on the coaches shoulders (how many get fired on the spot!! One got fired from Bayonne in 41 days… 41 days!!!) that they shy away from too risky / open rugby and rather play “simple”, better yet simplistic rugby. Toulouse is by far the best example to it. As well, schedule is such that the season is now a marathon more than anything else: rugby by the numbers in the long run. And it’s very interesting to see how long South Hemisphere can last in the Top14. They usually have a fantastic 1st season, can carry on to the 2nd one, and by the 3rd one, their body starts giving away. Kelleher was like that, McAlister is now in that position, South-African props, etc, etc… They argue the Top14 is best Championship in the world as it attracts all stars, but in reality, it’s only popular to those players for its wealth, not its quality, which is leveraged down through a crazy schedule…