As one of their travelling journalists remarked before Les Bleus' media conference yesterday morning: "They are only at peace if they are at war." France have been peaceful this week, basking in the glow of their first victory over England in the knockout stage of a World Cup, a game few expected them to win after finishing their group with two defeats, the second against Tonga, who were left cursing letting in Canada for a late try the week before.Wales, Saturday's semi-final opponents, know all about French volatility. The last time they faced them, in Paris in the final match of the 2011 Six Nations, Les Bleus had suffered what their media called a catastrophe: they had lost to Italy for the first time in the championship.
The France coach, Marc Livremont, not someone who is known for counting to 10 as he battles with his emotions, laid into his players, calling them cowards. "They have betrayed me and they have betrayed the national team shirt," he said. "I was ashamed. This match was an hallucination. They players are good guys but cursed with what is obviously cowardice." He went on, in a comment that could have been made about England this month: "They are not even capable of admitting to their own mistakes. Perhaps it is a trend among the new generation." A week later, they defeated Wales comfortably but the harmony brought about by victory did not last long. Lievremont is only 15 months older than Martin Johnson and they both seem to have found difficulty bridging the near generation gap.
