Rugby World Cup 2019: Ben Youngs warns England will take no notice of problems in French camp

Will Macpherson8 October 2019

Typhoon Hagibis is not the only storm brewing in Japan: the French squad are reportedly descending into their traditional tournament turmoil just in time for Saturday’s clash with England.

France have already kept up their perfect record of reaching the knockouts at every World Cup, but cracks are reported to have emerged between captain Guilhem Guirado and senior coaching staff Jacques Brunel and Fabien Galthie.

Camille Chat has started the past two matches — the unconvincing wins over USA and Tonga — at hooker and is set to be retained ahead of Guirado when the team are named for this weekend.

The outspoken Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal waded in yesterday, telling the players to “take control” and “tell the coaches to go on holiday”.

In Pictures | England vs Argentina, Rugby World Cup | 05/11/2019

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England scrum-half Ben Youngs said his team will take no notice of such events. He was part of the team beaten by Les Bleus in the quarter-finals in 2011, a similarly chaotic French campaign which involved an uprising against coach Marc Lievremont, but ended with a one-point defeat in the final.

There were rumblings of player discontent in 2011 and 2015, too.

When asked how much notice Youngs would give it, he replied: “Not very much. In 2011 something very similar happened and they ended up making the final, and they could’ve won it. So we don’t read into anything like that, I think a lot of those French players have been together for a long time and they’ve got some great experience.

In Pictures | France vs Tonga, Rugby World Cup | 06/10/2019

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“I’m sure the cohesion in the squad and the guys who take the field is impressive so we won’t read anything into that.”

Youngs described France as “extremely dangerous”. They have been off colour since the first half of their win over Argentina, but have spoken of using England’s hefty 44-8 dismantling in

Le Crunch at Twickenham this year as motivation.

“France have already qualified so they’re a team playing with no consequences. That makes them extremely dangerous,” he said.

“Without doubt they still have that ability. They get excited and everyone wants a touch of the ball. That’s the France you prepare for.”

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