After six titles in 11 years, four of them Grand Slams, France have a strong claim to call themselves the dominant Northern Hemisphere nation - but they cannot.  Wales, of course, are now the Six Nations champions and kings of Europe. And England have bumped France out of the two most recent tournaments, the World Cup and the recently-finished European championship.

In this time the single greatest transition that has affected France is the change of coach.  The pragmatic, defensive-orientated and percentage-based approach of Bernard Laporte is no longer there.  His record was solid, but he was often criticised for not releasing the traditional French flair. 

At the time, England - the former World Champions - had proved to the global stage that attack-minded rugby did not guarantee victory. The Springboks won the 2007 World Cup with a formula that was very similar. Little or no rotation, a consistent kicking game, defence designed to pressure opposition into mistakes, and a mindset to put points on the board any way possible.

'To be fair to the French, while looking their most offensively inept in the whole Six Nations, they were in the game at 9-9 until that fantastic Shane Williams try after 55 minutes'


At the time, this had elements of success. France were the second most dominant nation in the world after New Zealand in the years from 2004 to 2007. They took three Six Nations titles in this time, and compiled a sound record of 34 wins and 14 losses.  However, they were proverbially the All Blacks’ whippings boys over this time - with the Men in Black proving that a complete attacking mindset could beat a conservative game plan if executed well.

Enter Marc Lievremont - a former French flanker. He came aboard with a four-year appointment and took control of a French team coming out of the midst of great highs and great lows. They stunned the rugby world with a 20-18 victory over the most overwhelming favourites of any global sporting event - the All Blacks - playing the perfect style of defensive territory-based play.

Then came the lows. They crumbled in the semi-final when England beat them at their own game. Then came Argentina, who smashed France playing a similar game plan to New Zealand, except they executed it intelligently. So the new French coach decided to re-inject Les Bleus with the classical flair seen in French teams of the mid-90s. 

France was the one top-level international nation not weakened by movement or retirements; so Lievremont had a strong base to select from. But he picked players outside of France’s traditional strongholds, and picked debutants - preferring the vibrancy of youth. 

This was then supplemented with a run-at-all-costs policy, little tactical kicking, strong ruck commitment to allow for quick ball, and a desire to get the ball wide at every chance. Never since John Mitchell’s All Blacks of 2003 had a team looked so full of running and a desire to utilise a menacing counter-attacking back three.

Against Scotland, the French looked lethal and attacked the Scots at every chance. Against Ireland, for the first 50 minutes, it all looked much of the same. Their defence was solid, but with minimal pillar defence the Irish began to attack the fringes. Then, with the pressure, the youth and control of this French team was called into question. 

The English, the ultimate rugby pragmatists, then duplicated their success over France from the World Cup. To watch the game was incredible as, for the first 20 minutes, the French played all the rugby, dominating all facets of the game. And the English just stood, watched and tackled. 

They then took control with the opposite game plan to the French, playing to shut them out of the game while Les Bleus tried to outplay England to victory. When they played the Italians, finishing class proved the ultimate difference between the teams. However, like the England game, for the first time in many years a French team did not look powerful in the pack.

In theory, France never stood a chance against the confidence of the Welsh on home soil, on the verge of such history. Lievremont made multiple changes, bringing in a lot of experience and size, especially in the back line. To be fair to the French, while looking their most offensively inept in the whole Six Nations, they were in the game at 9-9 until that fantastic Shane Williams try after 55 minutes.

It was then shown, as in the France v New Zealand 2007 World Cup semi, that supremely attack-minded teams couldn’t effectively chase games.  For it is that exact mindset that affects the cold ability to shut out a team and put points on the board at any cost.

Monsieur Lievremont will do well to spend time looking at melding the two recent styles of French rugby and ensure he imposes an ability to adapt to playing situations, and not rely on one game plan.  The last four years of international rugby have shown that flair and attacking class can be almost unbeatable, a les All Blacks. 

But it has also shown the basic need to play a game in a style that will build victory, such as territory placement, kicking the ball out, and don't throw 50/50 passes.  These are elements that Canterbury Crusaders, the English and the Springboks have proved over the years.

Now, as Australia hardens its players with the Super 14, the French will prepare for a tough Australian tour. This will be perilous, for Robbie Deans is a more practiced coach that Lievremont, and would have had one eye on the recent Six Nations. 

The most important thing for Les Bleus is that they don't suffer a crisis of what style to play - and build on the many strengths shown throughout the Six Nations.