E-mail Article Print-Friendly Version Contact Us Subscribe to RSS Feed

Michalak blasts Laporte

Michalak: Hit out at Bernard Laporte

Frédéric Michalak has blamed poor tactical decisions from outgoing coach Bernard Laporte for France's exit from the World Cup.

France bowed out of the tournament at the semi-final stage to England, having already suffered a shock defeat in the opening game against Argentina.

And despite France shocking the rugby world with their quarter-final win over the All Blacks, Michalak insists the tactics were all wrong throughout the competition.

The Toulouse pivot, who despite only getting limited game time was still the inspiration behind two of France's best tries at the tournament, said: "I thought that the play we showed was too poor. We could have done better.

"It's true that I haven't played much. But I (believe) what I am saying," he said.

"We have the quality in France to develop some play, but what we are doing is so stereotyped that it is too obvious.

"Everyone knows how we play and it's easy to counter us. There is always room for attack on the field and you just need to want to.

"It's true that we could have taken more responsibility.

"We spoke among ourselves after Argentina, but we are only players, we don't put the game (tactics) in place.

"We can't change everything, start from scratch with this system of playing which has been in place for four years."

France will take on Argentina in the third/fourth play-off game on Friday - with Michalak unlikely to be bidding a fond farewell to Laporte, who steps down after the match.

"Bernard Laporte is coach, not a friend," added Michalak.

"A coach remains a coach, but it's true that at the end I was not following all his discussions."