Coach Bernard Laporte pronounced himself satisfied after France rounded off their World Cup preparations with a 22-9 victory against England.
France coach says current squad an improvment on 2003 vintage
It was very much a case of 'mission accomplished' France coach Bernard Laporte, after his side rounded off their World Cup preparations with a 22-9 victory against England in Marseille.
Laporte said the result, which followed last weekend's victory at Twickenham, met his twin targets of giving as many players as possible an outing, as well as exposing them to the sort of ferociously competitive play that will likely be seen in next month's tournament.
"Above all we wanted to see the players perform," said Laporte, whose side's win came courtesy of a Yannick Jauzion try, with Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Frederic Michalak also kicking a total of five penalties.
"It is for that reason that we rotated the squad.
"That has helped us and given us the clues as to what team will begin the World Cup match against Argentina (which takes place on September 7 at the Stade de France).
"At the outset we had two targets. First to really train hard and then to step up the players to maximum pace.
"After these two first matches we have seen the maximum amount of players and we have got them up to speed."
Competition for places
Alongside dark horses Argentina, France face another early obstacle in Pool D in the shape of Triple Crown winners Ireland.
But Laporte - soon to become his country's sports minister - also claimed that the overall quality of the host nation's current squad is better than that which lost against England in the semi-finals of the 2003 event.
"It is true that in 2003 there was a difference in quality between the players," he continued.
"This time round there is the advantage of them being on the same level and therefore competing against each other for a place in the team.
"But we know we have a top class squad of 30 players, with four wingers of the same level, and a back row which is really competing for places.
"It is the same thing in the second row. There is real competition and that is a good thing to have internal competition. It is something one should encourage."
