Rugby World Cup – France profile: Full squad, head coach, key player, prediction and odds

A closer look at Jacques Brunel’s team ahead of Japan 2019

France have only twice failed to make the Rugby World Cup semi-finals, but have never won the competition. Unfortunately, that duck looks unlikely to be broken at Japan 2019.

Indeed, there are rumblings that the French may already be looking forward to their home World Cup in 2023, where a young squad may be better equipped for a tilt at glory. Jacques Brunel has selected a squad full of promise, with prodigious tighthead prop Demba Bamba, devastating Fijian-born winger Alivereti Raka and playmaking fly-half Romain Ntamack (whose father Emile was part of the second and third-placed sides in 1999 and 1995 respectively) just three that catch the eye.

However, there are concerns that too much of the squad has too little experience, particularly in key areas. Ntamack, likely the first-choice fly-half for the World Cup, was not a starter for Toulouse come the sharp end of the Top 14, and was generally selected at inside centre, anyway.

There are reasons for optimism, of course, not least the successes of that Toulouse side and Clermont Auvergne, the two clubs from which France’s foundations will be built. Antoine Dupont is such a danger at nine and Damian Penaud’s continued evolution from error-prone outside centre into rangy running try-scorer on the wing has added further threat to a backline that, if Wesley Fofana stays fit and Ntamack finds his international footing, is a rival to any at the tournament.

England appear to be beyond France’s capabilities and should take Pool D, but Argentina are not in a dissimilar phase to Brunel’s side, and that opening pool game looks a corker that could decide second place in the group. It is perhaps clichéd to say that it depends on what French team turns up, but this iteration have rekindled the entertainingly mercurial nature of the sides which have gone before, and they genuinely can beat anyone on their day.

Squad

Forwards: Jefferson Poirot, Cyril Baille, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Camille Chat, Peato Mauvaka, Emerick Setiano, Rabah Slimani, Demba Bamba, Sébastien Vahaamahina, Bernard Le Roux, Paul Gabrillagues, Arthur Iturria, Wenceslas Lauret, Yacouba Camara, Charles Ollivon, Grégory Alldritt, Louis Picamoles.

Backs: Antoine Dupont, Baptiste Serin, Maxime Machenaud, Romain Ntamack, Camille Lopez, Wesley Fofana, Gaël Fickou, Virimi Vakatawa, Sofiane Guitoune, Yoann Huget, Damian Penaud, Alivereti Raka, Thomas Ramos, Maxime Médard.

Head coach

Jacques Brunel. Dragged back into the international arena after Guy Noves’ departure in 2017, Brunel’s tenure has thus far been a poor one, with a first ever defeat to Fiji last autumn and consecutive poor Six Nations campaigns.

He has retained the backing of French rugby president Bernard Laporte, perhaps benefiting from his time as France’s forward coach working under Laporte between 2001 and 2007. With Fabien Galthie teed up for taking over after the World Cup, Brunel will be looking to finish strongly in what might be, at 65 years old, his final major coaching role.

Key Player

France captain Guilhem Guirado’s leadership will be important at the World Cup (Getty)

Guilhem Guirado. Guirado leads from the front and very rarely puts a foot wrong in a French jersey. The hooker is an accurate dart-thrower at the lineout, solid scrummager and tireless worker in open play, and while there may be more naturally gifted hookers at the tournament, no-one will graft quite as much as Guirado.

With France relatively inexperienced, particularly at key positions like nine and ten, Guirado’s leadership will be vital.

Past Record

• Australia/New Zealand 1987 – runners-up
• Europe 1991 – quarter-finalists (three wins)
• South Africa 1995 – third place
• Wales 1999 – runners-up
• Australia 2003 – fourth place
• France 2007 - fourth place
• New Zealand 2011 - runners-up
• England 2015 – quarter-finalists (three wins)

Prediction

France fail to recover from a first game loss to Argentina, and despite beating the USA and Tonga are eliminated with a defeat against England.

Fixtures

• Saturday 21 September – France vs Argentina (8.15am), Tokyo
• Wednesday 2 October – France vs USA (8.45am), Fukuoka
• Sunday 6 October – France vs Tonga (8.45am), Kumamoto
• Saturday 12 October – England vs France (9.15am), Yokohama

Odds

France to win the World Cup: 25/1