2015
France 13-63 New Zealand: After France had suffered a heavy
defeat to Ireland in the last round of the pool stages, it was
reported that the players, unhappy with Philippe Saint-André’s
handling of training, had mutinied on the then-Head Coach, and
taken control of the match preparation for the side’s quarter-final
tie against the world number ones, New Zealand. While we will
never know what truly happened behind the scenes, what’s for
certain is that France took a serious hiding from the All Blacks,
and exited the competition with their tail between their legs.
2011
France 9-8 Wales: The semi-final of the 2011 World Cup
is a game that will live long in the memory of both sets
of the countries’ fans, but for very different reasons.
After their captain Sam Warburton was red carded in the
18th minute for a tip-tackle on French winger Vincent
Clerc, Wales had it all to do, and although they ran their
opposition close, France squeaked into that year’s final.
2007
France 10-34 Argentina: At the time the country’s biggest
ever loss to Argentina, France went down to what was an
electric display from los Pumas to cough up that year’s
bronze medal. It was also the second time that Argentina
had beaten France that tournament, with the side
recording a 12-17 win over les Blues in the pool stages.
2003
France 7-24 England: Despite scoring the only try of the game
through talismanic flanker Serge Betsen in the 10th minute,
France were unceremoniously booted out of the 2003
competition by England - more specifically, Jonny
Wilkinson, who kicked all 24 of his country’s
points. The third ‘Le Crunch’ to occur at a
World Cup, this game ended what was arguably
France’s best chance of winning the title to date.
1999
France 43-31 New Zealand: Defeating the All Blacks is
always an impressive feat, but doing so by staging one
of rugby’s most iconic comebacks is even more so. 24-10
down at half-time, France turned on the style to outscore
the All Blacks in the second-half and shock the rugby
world, finishing the game 43-31 to the good. The result also
saw France through to their second World Cup final.
1995
France 19-9 England: Having lost to hosts and eventual
winners South Africa in the semi-finals, France faced old
foes England in the battle for third place. Outscoring their
neighbours across the channel two tries to none, les Blues
became the only northern hemisphere nation to place at
that year’s competition, taking home the bronze medal.1991
France 10-19 England: Four year’s previously, however,
it was a different story. In what was a home quarter-final
for the French, the game held at the Parc des Princes,
the side were knocked out by England in the first ‘Le
Crunch’ match-up in World Cup history. The only solace
for les Blues is perhaps that England went on to reach
the final, where they only narrowly lost to Australia.1987
France 9-29 New Zealand: In the first-ever rendition of the
Rugby World Cup, France staked their claim as a serious
rugby-playing nation by making it to the competition’s final,
knocking out second-seeds Australia along the way. Although
they went down to New Zealand in the final, France had started
their love affair with the World Cup in style.MEMORABLE RUGBY WORLD CUP MOMENTS
Matches played: 48
Wins: 33 Losses: 14
Draw: 1
Win percentage: 69%
Total points scored: 1488
Tries: 130 Penalties: 135
Conversions: 122
Drop-goals: 10
World ranking: 7FRANCE AT THE
RUGBY WORLD CUPRUGBY WORLD CUP - TOP 10
ISSUE 116 2019 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • 45