FRANCE COACH Marc Lievremont has long been known for his at times eccentric selection and also his penchant for employing the verbal scattergun, more often than not aimed at his own players.

The 2011 Rugby World Cup saw the relationship with his players hit an all-time low, despite their passage to the final and ultimately heartbreaking one-point defeat. It signified his last match in charge of the French team.

Below is just a few offerings from the tournament's most outspoken coach.

"Go to hell with your question. I really regret the detestable atmosphere that we have at these press conferences." –This was in response to a French journalist after the pool stage loss to the All Blacks.

"I thought I had experienced everything in terms of shame. But this time around, it's been an extremely violent feeling again. Each missed pass, each missed tackle; I took them as a deep personal failure." – He was speaking after the pool stage defeat by Tonga.

"I would have liked for us to gather around a few drinks yesterday, to talk, to share thoughts, to tell each other that it's a beautiful adventure, all things considered. And I was disappointed. At the end of the press conference, I got us some beers to release the pressure – and we all split in different directions. I saw players with their agent on the eve (of the match) and after the game instead of regrouping as a team. It's a kind of disappointment." – Talking about his attempts at team-building:

"Yesterday we had the same players out there as in Wellington against Tonga, except that they grew a big pair of balls." – Lievremont talking about his team's quarter-final victory over England.

"I told them they are a bunch of spoiled brats; undisciplined, disobedient, sometimes selfish. (They're) always complaining, always moaning. It has been like this for four years." – After players went out drinking following the win over Wales.

Born lucky: All Blacks’ baby boom

NEW ZEALAND’S victory in the 2011 RWC could lead to something of a baby boom in the country if historical precedent is anything by which to judge. The previous time the All Blacks lifted the William Webb Ellis Cup, in June 1987, there was an upsurge in babies born nine months later.

Figures released to the Otago Daily Timesfrom Statistics NZ show that during March 1988 there were 4,822 births, almost 400 births more than in February and April. All other RWC tournaments, barring the 2003 RWC, resulted in an increase in births nine months later when compared with the previous month.

The All Blacks lost to arch-rivals Australia 22-10 at the 2003 tournament. The smallest increase in births came nine months after the All Blacks’ shock exit at in the quarter-finals against France at the 2007 World Cup.

Prominent All Blacks also appear to be influencing the names of boys born around each tournament, with distinctive names such as Taine (1999-2000), Carlos (2003) and Carter (2007-08) appearing in the top 100 New Zealand boys’ names. Imagine it’s time for a new generation of Corys, Israels and Sonny Bills to be added to the list.

Irish eyes: Some familiar faces

STEPHEN DONALD, the replacement outhalf, who kicked the winning penalty in New Zealand’s 8-7 victory over France in the final, will be familiar to Ireland rugby supporters, or more appositely Munster supporters as he was a member of the All Blacks team that narrowly prevailed 18-16 against the Irish province in a memorable match at Thomond Park in 2008.

It wasn’t a great evening for Donald, who missed several opportunities with the placed ball but his connection with Ireland and global tournaments goes back four years prior to that Limerick night.

He played outhalf for the New Zealand team that beat Ireland in the Under- 21 World Cup final in Glasgow. The Kiwis’ replacement scrumhalf that day was one Piri Weepu.

Ulster-bound World Cup winner John Afoa also played that afternoon in Scotland, as did arguably the 2011 World Cup’s outstanding player, Jerome Kaino. The latter would go on to be World Under-21 Player of the Year, beating a shortlist that included Ireland’s Jamie Heaslip.