I understand that the French rugby coach, Philippe Saint Andre and Italian -born, current Greek soccer coach Claudio Ranieri have something in common?
What, you mean the former Chelsea coach whose mum loved Duffer, sorry Damien Duff?
That’s the one. What’s the connection?
Well they’ve both had the sobriquet ‘The Tinkerman’ bestowed on them.
Why so?
They are fond of chopping and changing systems and personnel in Ranieri's case while Saint Andre changes halfback pairings as often as his socks (note: that's a euphemism and in no way suggests that the French coach isn't a seven pairs of chausettes a week man). Last November for the match against Fiji he chose his 13th different halfback pairing since taking over after the 2011 World Cup by selecting Sebastian Tillous Borde and Camille Lopez.
Was it lucky 13?
Well France won the match 40-15 and then went on to beat Australia in their next outing. Saint Andre kept the same halfback combination, indeed the whole team was the same.
So he must have kept the band together for a third match in a row when they faced Argentina?
Eh, no. He made five changes and the French lost 18-15 to Argentina at the Stade de France. Still he didn’t change the halfback pairing.
Were any of those changes enforced?
Well as it happens, one was. Teddy Thomas, who scored a hat-trick of tries on his debut against Fiji and another against Australia in his second cap, was disciplined for arriving two hours late for a training session and was replaced in the team by Maxime Medard. The youngster was contrite regarding the mix-up but it's fair to say that if he didn't get an outsize alarm clock ala Rory McIlroy for Christmas he's likely to be given one when the French squad return to Marcoussis.
So what are their chances in the Six Nations?
It’s hard to say and it’s not down to how mercurial the French can be at times but rather a question of whether their coach can resist the urge to throw the baby out with the bath water if they lose a match. There is no doubt they possess the squad to win the tournament and, if their backline is firing, the ability to do so in style.
So what are the chances of the French players having to wear name tags to training?
Slimmer than you might think.
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