Things we learned about France

France may have come in for some heavy criticism during the Six Nations, much of which was justified, but they do emerge from the Six Nations having learnt considerably more about their side than they knew in January.

Here are eight things France have learnt about their squad, for better or for worse, ahead of the Rugby World Cup later this year.

1. Mas (re)emerges as France’s best tighthead prop
Even though Nicolas Mas will be 35 by the time the RWC rolls around later this year, he remains France’s best hope of cementing a solid set-piece. His reintroduction to test rugby in Round Four of this year’s tournament provided the French set-piece with some much-needed stability and consistency.
New Zealand-born Uini Atonio had some good moments during the tournament, but his role seems be limited to cameos from the bench, whilst the difference in quality between Mas and France’s other preferred tighthead prop, Rabah Slimani, was shown to be stark. Slimani’s scrummaging travails and inconsistencies against Alasdair Dickson, Jack McGrath and Gethin Jenkins will have made for uncomfortable viewing for French fans accustomed to powerful packs.

2. Trying to second-guess Saint-André is the first step to madness
France made 16 changes to their first XV throughout the tournament, more than any other nation. Admittedly, France’s Six Nations was as disappointing as anyone’s south of Hadrian’s Wall, but the lack of consistency in Saint-André’s selections continues to baffle and bemuse even the most out of the box thinkers.
His unique approach to selections has unearthed a couple of players who could contribute to France’s RWC campaign, including Loann Goujon and Teddy Thomas, but the lack of cohesion and quality in the side is reminiscent of the post-2003 England team. With rumours that Saint-André has lost the respect of many of his senior players, as well as the French Rugby Federation supposedly lining up names to replace him, it will now take a minor miracle to save his job beyond the RWC.

3. Goujon added to France’s back row buffet
The aforementioned Goujon impressed for France against Italy and England, after making his debut for Les Bleus in their 2015 opener against Scotland. Options are anything but thin for France at eight, with Louis Picamoles, Damien Chouly and Charles Ollivon amongst the other leading candidates, not to mention Toulouse’s Gillian Galan.
Goujon’s introduction, admittedly only because of Picamoles’ thigh injury, provided the French back row with an incisive carrying threat, that aside from poor overall team performances, has forged a well-functioning back row unit. The industry and breakdown work of Thierry Dusautoir and Bernard le Roux has been complimented effectively by the dynamism of Goujon.

4. Captain Maestri?
Amidst the misfiring and lacklustre performances from France, the consistent excellence of Yoann Maestri has been an invaluable fillip to Saint-André. Alongside his Toulouse teammate Dusautoir, Maestri was undoubtedly the most impressive performer the French had at their disposal in the Six Nations, excelling at the set-piece and in the tight.
Dusautoir will be turning 34 at the conclusion of the RWC and France will likely be looking for a new captain to lead them into their next cycle. With few players guaranteed places in Saint-André’s XVs or a new coach’s vision of the French national team, Maestri’s potent mix of consistency, ability and leadership make him a perfect candidate.

5. Midfield dilemmas still abound
Despite the prestigious list of names involved in France’s midfield battle, there is still no absolute answer for what combination Saint-André should or will use at the upcoming RWC. Wesley Fofana has struggled for form of late in a French jersey, whilst Mathieu Bastareaud, despite impressing in his opportunities, is dragged through the ringer by those who don’t think he fits the mould of how a centre should play.
Maxime Mermoz, Rémi Lamerat and Gaël Fickou have all also featured for France during the Six Nations, but none of the three laid down significant enough markers to make a jersey their own. The consistent inconsistencies of Saint-André’s selection policy obviously contribute to this failure to find a cohesive duo, but in defence of the French coach, France’s midfield options have been unable to transform their club form onto the international stage of late.

6. Is Kayser the solution?
Guilhem Guirado did not have a bad Six Nations, but Benjamin Kayser had an excellent campaign coming off the bench for France. The former Leicester Tiger added impetuous to flagging French efforts, as well as solidifying (excluding against England) a set-piece that has not functioned to the level that the French have come to expect over the years.
Obviously Kayser had the benefit of being brought on to play against a majority of players who had an hour of rugby under their belts and feeling the physical toll, but the lineout, an area which should be relatively unaffected by fatigue, still saw definite improvements in accuracy. We may not have learnt if Kayser is the solution for France, but we have learnt that he is ready for a return to the first XV.

7. Back three close to the finished article
Full-back Scott Spedding has established himself as France’s preferred option at 15, whilst Teddy Thomas and Yoann Huget are prolific wingers, both of whom have a good nose for the try line. Montpellier’s Brice Dulin and Clermont’s Noa Nakaitaci currently provide solid backup for both positions.
The winger combination could yet be tweaked; with Nakaitaci providing a more physical option than Thomas or Huget should France want to explore that avenue. Dulin also represents a like-for-like replacement for Spedding should injury or poor form strike the South African-born star, and overall the unit is in relatively good shape moving forwards.

8. The half-backs. Oh, the half-backs...
For years, France have produced sublime scrum-halves, but have struggled to partner them with a fly-half of equal quality and/or consistency. The roles have now reversed however; with Camille Lopez at fly-half offering a return to the swashbuckling French fly-halves of old, but finding a running mate at scrum-half has been difficult.
Lopez’s club teammate Morgan Parra seems to find it hard gain favour with Saint-André, whilst Rory Kockott, the incumbent from the autumn internationals, looked laboured and one-dimensional in the Six Nations. The outcome has been Sébastien Tillous-Borde retaking charge of the jersey, and though not necessarily lighting up the tournament, the Toulon man was a steadying influence for Les Bleus.