THE TEAMS

Analysis of all 20 countries competing at this year's World Cup

POOL A

FRANCE

With a team of dazzling talents playing on home soil, everything is teed up for les Bleus. Can they finally get their hands on the trophy?

ODDS 11-4

DID YOU KNOW?

Of the five countries to have reached a World Cup final, France are the only one not to have won the tournament. New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and England have all topped the tree at some point. France, however, have lost finals in 1987, 1999 and 2011. But they’ve made the final every 12 years…

WORLD CUP HIGH

The 1999 semi-final fightback against the All Blacks will likely only ever be topped by winning a World Cup. At 24-10 the game looked over but, in an irresistible surge, France scored 33 unanswered points to win 43-31 and have fans dancing in the Twickenham aisles.

WORLD CUP LOW

The 19-10 quarter-final loss to England in Paris in 1991 was more brawl than rugby match. France took England on up front and came off second best. “The referee turned a blind eye to English foul play,” complained Serge Blanco, bitterly.

STRENGTHS

France’s biggest strength is surely their depth in playing resources. The 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam winners can call upon three to four outstanding players per position. It’s a credit to the squad that there are just two or three truly deemed irreplaceable.

WORK-ONS