Tillous-Borde has started 10 of France’s past 13 Test matches, one of Saint-Andre’s key men, but was discarded for the experienced, goal-kicking Parra, himself a key player under Saint-Andre’s predecessor Marc Lievremont.
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France captain Thierry Dusautoir has rubbished reports there had been a split between coach Philippe Saint-Andre and his players just days before the World Cup quarter-final against defending champions New Zealand.
French media’s L’obs Sport reported the French side have “discreetly dismissed” Saint-Andre and are coaching themselves ahead of Saturday’s match with the All Blacks at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
“They no longer believe in the word of Saint-Andre”, the report claims.
“We started as a team and want to continue as a team”, he added, “we’re still together until the end of the competition, players, coaches, medical staff”. I don’t really understand what everybody is talking about here and it’s not really my problem.
“I don’t know where that’s come from, but you need to ask the person who wrote the article to tell us more”, said Dusautoir this morning in response to the claims.
On that occasion, Dusautoir was among a group of senior players who took the team on their shoulders before the final at Eden Park, where the All Blacks prevailed by one point.
“Some go for the match against the All Blacks with leaden feet, already beaten”, it said.
After three impressive victories to open their campaign in Pool D, France suffered a disappointing 24-9 loss against Ireland last time out, a result that left them in the path of the All Black juggernaut. “I think French people really liked this moment”, Dusautoir said.
The former Gloucester and Sale coach has presided over a limp four years in which France have never finished in the top half of the Six Nations’ table and it is now or never for his French team.
Dusautoir said that “everyone’s focused on playing this weekend, to win this quarter-final and to be there next week”.
The apparent player-led mutiny is a mirror of a similar uprising at the last World Cup in 2011.
“I’m not sure it’s the same flair they’ve got now”.
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“Why Morgan? Everyone knows him, he’s a great competitor”, Saint-Andre said Thursday.
