Les Bleus have prepared well for the invaders set to attack them on home soil - and probably have their strongest squad in Rugby World Cup history.

They have been in excellent touch since the last tournament in 2003.  They began 2004 with an outstanding Six Nations Grand Slam, were runners-up in 2005 to the Welsh magic year - and were champions again in 2006 and 2007.  They have lost only 11 games in four years and have not lost to any team more than once - except New Zealand.

They have averaged better than 70 percent as far as year-to-year winning is concerned since 2003, and their recent international record is second only to the All Blacks. Their home record is as solid - only the All Blacks, Wales and the Pumas have lowered their colours at home.

'The French don't know how to defend against New Zealand, don't know how to attack against New Zealand, and most importantly, they don't know how to beat New Zealand'


France wield a very strong squad, with solid depth, especially in the loose forwards and threequarters, and Bernard Laporte would dearly love to enter his new role as National Sports Minister with a Rugby World Cup on the mantelpiece. A strong defensive pattern, with great strength at the set pieces - excellent ability in the loose coupled with the usual French flamboyance means that Les Bleus will not be comprehensively beaten by any team.  Most experts predict that with home advantage, they will be at least finalists again.

Only two questions remain.  Unlike other major nations, Laporte is still unclear about his first-choice XV.  The loose forwards, fly-half and centres are still not finalised.  But the strong all-round depth in the team bodes well for these selections. 

The next question is far more formidable; put simply, how to overcome the All Blacks. The New Zealand juggernaut has been all but unstoppable in the last four years (Springboks and Wallabies excepted) and in that time the French have been used as the Kiwis' doormat.  They currently sit on a nine-game losing streak against Graham Henry and Co, with their last victory in 2000, and the cumulative points margin since the last Rugby World Cup stands at an astonishing 41-218.  France haven't posted more than 11 points on New Zealand since 2003, and the All Blacks have scored 40-plus points four times. In short, no other team in history has had such a golden period against Les Bleus.

The All Blacks have inflicted the first, third, and fourth biggest defeats in French history (they also hold the second) since that dark day in Paris when the French were destroyed 45-6. As awful as it sounds, the French don't know how to defend against New Zealand, don't know how to attack against New Zealand - and, most importantly, they don't know how to beat New Zealand.

If the French cannot whitewash their pool, they will meet the All Blacks in the quarter-finals. And unless another team can spring the upset of the tournament, they will otherwise likely meet in Paris on October 20.

The men in black will stand roaring their fearsome haka knowing that the French hold no fears for them.  And the French will stare at the most impressive rugby team in world history knowing that the All Blacks have had the most terrifying hold over them.

This almost insurmountable challenge must be breached, and Les Bleus will know that even their heroics of the fateful 1999 semi-final may not be enough.  It would be advisable that any French supporter back any other team to beat New Zealand, as they may not be able to.