France out for Rugby World Cup 'revenge'

LONDON (AFP) –

File picture. France captain Thierry Dusautoir (C) runs with the ball during the 2011 Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland on October 23, 2011. Dusautoir says the three-time losing finalists are seeking “revenge” for last year’s heartbreak defeat after being drawn in a “little Six Nations” for the 2015 World Cup in England.

France captain Thierry Dusautoir said the three-time losing finallists were seeking “revenge” for last year’s heartbreak after being drawn in a “little Six Nations” for the 2015 World Cup in England.

The French reached the 2011 World Cup final but lost a hard-fought contest by the narrow margin of 8-7 to hosts New Zealand in Auckland.

But Dusautoir, who led his side superbly during last year’s tournament, said France hoped to go one better in England in three years’ time after being drawn Monday in a Pool D also featuring Six Nations rivals Ireland and Italy,

“For us maybe we are going to have our revenge for the final against New Zealand,” said back-row forward Dusautoir following Monday’s draw in London.

The two remaining teams in Pool D will come from either the United States or Canada and one out of emerging European nations Georgia, Russia, Romania, Spain and Portugal.

But all eyes will be on the Six Nations trio who are expected to dominate the fight for the two quarter-final spots out of Pool D.

Graphic showing the draw for the group stages of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. France, by virtue of being fourth in the International Rugby Board rankings, were among the top four seeds for the 2015 draw and so avoided a pool match against one of the southern hemisphere ‘big three’ of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

And for the winners of this pool there is the added incentive of missing out on a likely quarter-final clash against favourites New Zealand, with Argentina in line to provide the opposition for the table-toppers.

However, then hosts France — despite playing in Cardiff — managed to beat New Zealand 20-18 in a thrilling 2007 quarter-final at the Millennium Stadium.

And even before Monday’s draw France, by virtue of being fourth in the International Rugby Board rankings, were among the top four seeds for the 2015 draw and so avoided a pool match against one of the southern hemisphere ‘big three’ of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

By contrast, Six Nations foes England and Wales were drawn in a group with Australia labelled the “pool of death” by France coach Philippe Saint-Andre.

And Dusautoir was more than happy with the draw given to France, who lost the inaugural World Cup final 29-9 to New Zealand in Auckland in 1987 and were also beaten 35-12 by Australia in the climax of the 1999 edition in Cardiff.

File picture. France captain Thierry Dusautoir stands next to the Webb Ellis cup after the 2011 Rugby World Cup defeat to New Zealand at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland on October 23, 2011. The All Blacks won 8-7. Dusautoir led his side superbly during last year’s tournament.

“It’s a European pool, it’s like being in a little Six Nations again,” Dusautoir said. “But it’s true that we can be happy to not be in a pool which is really hot.”

Meanwhile Ireland captain Brian Driscoll said his team had an “okay draw”.

“It could have been worse,” said O’Driscoll. “It’s a bit of a double-edged sword because when you avoid New Zealand, South Africa or Australia, inevitably when you get to the knockout stages you’re likely to face one of them sooner rather than later.

“It’s an okay draw but I’d imagine France and Italy are quietly happy they’ve drawn us. They’ll think they can beat us.”

Ireland have an appalling record against France, winning just one of 13 Tests since 2003, a sequence including defeats at both the 2003 and 2007 World Cups.

“Early in my career we managed to get a few victories against France and then all of a sudden they became a very difficult team for us to beat,” said O’Driscoll, who confirmed his great talent with three tries against France in 2000 giving Ireland their first win in Paris since 1972.

“They play with a lot of confidence against us because of that record.

Bernard Lapasset, Chairman of the International Rugby Board, draws Australia during the IRB Rugby World Cup 2015 pool allocation draw at the Tate Modern in London.

“But if we play well we can definitely beat them.”

However, O’Driscoll — who will be 36 by the time the next World Cup begins — does not expect to be in the Ireland team come 2015.

“I’ll be there in some capacity, but as a player I doubt that very much. It’s far too far away to be contemplating playing,” said the gifted centre, who has appeared in four World Cups.

“I think my World Cup ship has sailed, but I’ll be there as Ireland’s number one supporter.”