FRENCH rugby captain Philippe Saint Andre had a clear Five Nations warning for England yesterday: "It's time for you to get used to losing."
The left winger, captain for the 22nd time in a row tomorrow at the Parc des Princes, hoped a victory would usher in an equally impressive era of French supremacy.
"Carling's generation got used to winning at the Parc - it's now time for them to get used to losing," he said. "I hope this can be the start of a long run of French wins."
But the prolific Saint Andre, whose 27 tries in 55 Tests include the 100 metre Twickenham try in 1991 launched behind the French tryline, admitted yet another defeat could herald the end of the careers of some of the French players. . . himself included.
"Yes, if we do lose, quite a few of the players are going to realise that perhaps we are nearing the end of our careers," he said.
France beat England in the World Cup play off for third place last year in Pretoria but have not beaten the English since 1988 in the Five Nations.
Olivier Roumat, the lock and former French captain who was axed from the All Blacks Test after staying in South Africa to play for Natal, was just as confident.
"It was hard losing to them year after year. They built up a psychological advantage but we have sorted all that out after Pretoria."
He added: "The difference now is that they have lost some key players, principally Moore and the hall"backs. Moore was a leader and the English are going to miss him. He did try and wind us up but actually, he was quite a nice chap.
New coach Jean Claude Skrela, brought in after Pierre Berbizier was axed following the World Cup, said he was glad England were trying to broaden their game at last.
"They need time to develop the game. I'm glad they're going for total rugby. We're all trying to progress. It's got to be good for the game. We are going to go off at 100 miles an hour. We don't want to take time being cautious and sizing them up."
But like Berbizier, Skrela believes in getting the first phase basics right as well. "We want to entertain the crowd. But we haven been concentrating on our first phase in particular. It's alright launching counters from breakdowns, you can always score like that, but it's much easier when you dominate possession."
The French see the key confrontations coming at fly half, where Thierry Lacroix is being switched after his successful spell alongside Roumat at Natal, and at centre.
Roumat added: "I hope Lacroix is going to be our Rob Andrew. But it doesn't mean he'll spend all 80 minutes kicking - he can pass the ball."
At centre, however, it is the French who will lack the experience, with new combination Thomas Castaignede and converted Dax full back Richard Dourthe in harness.
Castaignede, however, is confident they were ready. "We are not worried about playing against Carting and Guscott," he said. "We have already proved we can play against the New Zealanders, the best in the world. I have no worries about Dourthe - I can play alongside him with my eyes shut."
