Outgoing France coach Philippe Saint-Andre paid tribute to New Zealand after the All Blacks thrashed his side 62-13 in the World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff.
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“We’ve been preparing for this game against New Zealand with all the boys and coaches and manager”, Dusautoir said.
The most recent of those wins came at the 2007 World Cup when France recorded a 20-18 quarter-final win at the Millennium Stadium ” the venue for Saturday’s encounter, which comes at the same stage of this year’s event.
“I haven’t even thought about all that to be honest”, said Dusautoir, when asked if had played his last game for France.
Saint-Andre said: “We need to realise at a high level that French rugby needs to bring something different to its organisation”.
“That being said I want to thank my staff, the players that since July 5 have been working extremely hard”.
McCaw will pit his brand of back-row skulduggery against the opponent he rates above all others in Saturday’s quarter-final against France, well aware Thierry Dusautoir has lost none of his own tricks.
While All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was being heralded for the way he prepared his team for the match against Les Bleus, Saint-Andre was left to reflect on a career that has been left in tatters following the nine-try defeat.
There’s a huge respect for Dusautoir in these parts and for good reason – he’s beaten us before, he matches McCaw around the field and he operates in silent mode, a big tick for many who don’t care for the sensational.
Someone who butchered France’s identity, ripping away any of the so-called “French flair”, and replacing it with physicality that got utterly shown up by a more mobile, dynamic New Zealand team.
“What interests me most is getting through this round”.
Unfortunately versus Ireland last weekend, France’s disjointed and vastly chastening showing was typified by a litany of cheap penalty concessions, which should a repeat arise, The All Black offense will pick apart.
“I think in our sport we have to have dignity in victory and defeat”.
“We had a great moment eight years ago, another one four years ago in reaching the final”.
“It’s to play in games like this that we’ve been training since childhood. We are going to have to go back to reality and real life”. “It’s always a privilege to play against him”.
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“I hope we write a new chapter tomorrow”.
