New French coach sets about recovery

3/01/2008 8:30:43 AM
PA Sport

France coach Marc Lievremont is hoping a successful defence of its Six Nations crown will help his side get over its World Cup disappointment.

The 39-year-old was appointed as Bernard Laporte's successor shortly after Les Bleus' semi-final exit to England and he realises a third successive Six Nations crown would not only heal some mental scars but also help his new charges rise up the world rankings.

"For a year in which the World Cup was held in France, to finish in sixth place in the world when we started in second is obviously disappointing," Lievremont told French sports daily L'Equipe.

"We have singled out the problems so that they don't repeat themselves and it's for that reason that we have heightened our research on physical preparation and opted for a close-knit staff where everyone is on the same wavelength."

France starts its Six Nations defence against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 3 with Lievremont admitting there will not be wholesale changes to the side which featured under Laporte.

"We're not going to start from zero," he added. "But it's possible there might be one, two or three new players.

"Whoever is in the squad has to take more responsibility on the pitch and I also want them to try to play a more offensive game."

Lievremont is looking beyond attempting to make it a hat-trick of Six Nations wins as he is already thinking as far ahead as 2011.

"We're following more than 150 players," he said. "They don't all play in the Top 14, there are some in Pro D2.

"We're going to think a lot about France v Scotland but we're planning for the 2011 World Cup and even beyond that.

"I'm not obsessed with 2011 or the immediate results. We need a solid base to build up our confidence."