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FFR are a mess

FrenchFan

First XV
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Dec 19, 2013
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France
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Toulouse
With the announcement by FFR that it was closing its own players development centre at Marcoussis this month https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Article/Apres- quinze-annees-d-existence-bernard-laporte-ferme-les-portes-du-pole-france/832163, the shelving by Laporte of his proposed union contracts for the
internationals and the subsequent 'Laporte affair' https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/french-bid-to-host-world-cup-2023-hit-by-laporte- scandal-1.3213509 that have undermined his authority and credibility - all of it in the last 6 mths! - the writing is on the wall for FFR. Their credibility
was never great - now it's gone out of the window.

Not surprisingly the French team of the last 7 years - basically since their last 6N GS in 2010 - is the mirror image of the decay at FFR. It's hard to imagine how a successful team could represent a dysfunctional institution racked by bad politics, egos and incompetence.

The game is up for the FFR team. They've been on a steady down slide since the 2011 WC final and are not showing signs of improvement. Time is running out for Noves with just 2 years left before the WC. His W/L ratio is woeful. There's still no sign of a game plan the players are confortable with - no leaders either.

It is clear from the LNR and club statements during the Laporte affair the Top 14 no longer regards Laporte and the union as credible. Laporte had a historical chance to negotiate the FFR contracts on a case by case basis with the bigger clubs and he blew it. No credibility. No honey.

In recent interviews several ex-internationals like Olivier Magne have pointed out how far behind the French team has fallen in their approach to test rugby.
Fabrice Landreau has been very critical of the new FFR preparation for the internationals https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actual...ulon-critique-la-preparation-des-bleus/830844
 
Closing down a player development centre as well as committing to not getting any more "project players" is an interesting competition. It seems I was overly optimistic about what Laporte could acheive.
 

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