The
international futures of Sébastien Chabal, Yannick Jauzion,
Clément Poitrenaud, Jérôme Thion and Sylvain Marconnet have
all been cast in doubt after the quintet were dropped in the
aftermath of France's shock 22-21 defeat by Italy on
Saturday.
Under-pressure head coach Marc Lièvremont laid the blame for
the result squarely on his players' shoulders, adding that
several have played their last game in French colours - at
least while he remains at the helm.
"They
are lacking in in courage. They are good guys but cursed
with what is obviously cowardice," lamented Lièvremont.
"They
betrayed us, they have betrayed me and they have betrayed
the French national team shirt. In terms of tactics deployed
it defied belief. I did not recognize anything in their
performance that we had worked on.
"Do you
really think that I told them to play as they did against
Italy? I was ashamed. I do not have the impression we asked
them to walk on the moon. I do not ask for complicated
things. This match was an hallucination. I do not absolve
myself from blame, but they invented things on the pitch,"
said Lièvremont.
"I feel
like I'm responsible for this but the players are lacking
courage. Some of the players maybe wore the French jersey
for the last time," he added.
That is
bad news for Chabal, Poitrenaud, Jauzion, Thion and
Marconnet, all of whom have been replaced for France's last
Six Nations match of 2011 against Wales. centre Aurélien
Rougerie has also been replaced, although that is due to a
forthcoming LNR disciplinary hearing stemming from a club
match with Clermont Auvergne.
In their
place Lièvremont has brought in Alexandre Lapandry, Jérôme
Schuster, Alexis Palisson, Fabrice Estebanez, David Marty
and Pascal Papé.
The
dropped quintet now have virtually no time to make amends
for their poor showing before Lièvremont names his World Cup
squad, with France's plans for that tournament lying in
tatters just 12 months after sweeping to the 2010 Six
Nations Grand Slam.
The
turnaround has been swift and dramatic, but Lièvremont must
shoulder some of the responsibility for his constant
chopping and changing - despite having somehow stumbled on a
winning formula last season. The former France and Dax
flanker took over from Bernard Laporte after the last World
Cup and he has already used 81 different players.
Saturday's stunning loss in Rome was the fourth humiliation
since June for 'Les Bleus', following heavy summer defeats
in South Africa and Argentina, along with complete
capitulation at home to Australia in November.
Lièvremont
had earlier admitted to "huge disillusionment"
after watching his side crash to defeat against
Italy in Rome.
The
French outscored their hosts by two tries to one, but still
went down to their first ever Six Nations defeat against the
Italians. Indeed, it was only their second loss in 32 games
against the Azzurri, and comes hot on the heels of France's
defeat at Twickenham two weeks ago.
Lièvremont's indecision hurting France
It adds
up to a worrying picture for last season's Grand Slam
champions, especially when added to their summer humbling by
Argentina, and their woeful capitulation against Australia
in November.
Lièvremont is sure to take the brunt of the inevitable flak
that will continue to follow, with the next week likely to be one
of the longest in his four-year tenure.
The
French coach has managed to deflect most criticism with
crucial results just when most needed, but this loss in Rome
will be hugely difficult for the rugby-mad French public to
stomach - and especially so close to the World Cup being
held later this year.
To rub
further salt into Lièvremont's wounds all 22 if Italy's
points were scored by players plying their trade in Paris,
with Racing-Métro duo Mirco Bergamasco (five penalties and a
conversion) and Andrea Masi (try) doing the damage.
The
result was all the more surprising as France had been
leading 18-6 with half an hour to go after tries from
Vincent Clerc (14 mins) and Morgan Parra (50 mins) - the
latter his first in national colours. Parra, who got a late
call to the starting XV after Dimitri Yachvili was injured,
also added three penalties and a conversion as 'Les Bleus'
appeared on target for a regulation win.
But
Italy's fight-back was prompted by Masi's 59th-minute try,
with Bergamasco adding the conversion and three subsequent
penalties to seal the famous win. It capped a good day for
the Bergamasco brothers as sibling Mauro scored a try for
Stade Francais on his return to action after a four-month
lay-off.
Lièvremont, on the other hand, was almost rendered
speechless after the match. "This is yet another
disappointment and yet another huge disillusionment,"
admitted the 42-year-old. "We have to congratulate the
Italians because from the first minute to the last minute
they were better than us," he added.
The
former French flanker accused his team of shirking the
physical challenge presented by the Italians. "We lost every
duel we contested. This is hugely disappointing. We are
going to spend another really lovely week together," he
added.
Lièvremont was backed up by France skipper
Thierry Dusautoir, who also questioned his side's
commitment. "Rugby is a contact sport and about physically
engaging with the opponent, and we simply weren't interested
in that today," he said.
Jubilant
Italian captain Sergio Parisse, who plays for Stade
Francais, was overjoyed at the victory. "It's a dream today,
beating France," he beamed. "He's the only coach [Nick
Mallett] who believed in us, I want to dedicate this victory
to him," added Parisse.
And
victorious coach Nick Mallett was equally effusive. "I've
got a great captain in Sergio Parisse - he's been a lone
figure over the last four years, but he's now playing with a
team where he just has to do his part," he said after the
win.
"We
played today against a good French team, who have reached
two World Cup finals and have always thrashed Italy really,
so it's a huge achievement. It's one of the proudest moments
as coach, for sure," he added.
Italy
had come tantalizingly close to beating both Ireland and
Wales at home already this season, and Mallett believes the
progress is evident to see. "I think we have played our best
three games at home in the history of our Six Nations," he
said.
France
conclude their Six Nations programme with a home match
against Wales next week.
