World Cup - Lievremont: 'We made All Blacks tremble'

Mon, 24 Oct 05:45:00 2011

France coach Marc Lievremont signed off from his role on Monday, having one final jibe at the media after a tempestuous battle throughout the Rugby World Cup.

Marc Lievremont - 0

Lievremont's side lost the final to New Zealand 8-7 on Sunday, which ended the hosts' 24-year drought between victorious World Cup campaigns but also prolonged the French side's agony. It was their third final and third loss.

The former France international, who is being replaced by Philippe Saint-Andre as national coach, sparred with his country's media throughout the tournament, particularly after a series of performances that prompted heavy criticism.

"My contract ends today and I didn't want you guys to miss me very much," Lievremont told reporters at a media conference in Auckland. "In the weeks and months ahead, it will be up to someone else to tell you about the French team."

France lost two matches in the pool phase to New Zealand and Pacific islanders Tonga and lurched into the final following a 9-8 win over 14-man Wales in the semi-final.

Lieveremont reportedly also battled with some of his players, labelling them "spoiled brats" after a small group ignored his instructions not to go out and celebrate following their semi-final victory.

Led by the superb Thierry Dusautoir, however, France almost upset the All Blacks at Eden Park on Sunday with an aggressive effort that suffocated the New Zealanders' attacking prowess and turned the match into an arm wrestle.

"We made it to the final. We made the All Blacks tremble and that is where we are now," Lievremont said.

"I thought the performance of the French players was beautiful. They put in a great performance. They played great rugby.

"We were looking for three consecutive wins and it wasn't there. It is hard when you are up against a whole nation."

Lievremont, who said after the final he only had two words to say to his team - "thank you" - hoped the players would forgive his slip of the tongue after the semi-finals and eventually come to respect what he had done with the team in his four years in charge.

"That is a term (spoiled brats) I use with my brothers and sisters," he said.

"I take responsibility for that and the timing wasn't probably right. I know some of them were not happy with me.

"I have great admiration for my players and I hope in the coming weeks they will feel the same way about me."

Reuters

Comment 7 - 26 of 26

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  1. we showed to these arrogant all blacks that we know to­ play rugby! it's our victory! they can keep the­ trophee and drink with Joubert. doesn't mater. The­ world saw fear in eyes of these arrogants all blacks­ that needed help of IRB for save them.

    From Schimpf A, on Tue 25 Oct 3:18PM

  2. Wait a second, it's the frenchies who were made to­ tremble all world cup phases long. beaten twice in the­ preliminary round(humiliated by the AB in one of them);­ having a narrow escape in their encounter with the the­ 14-men strong dragons and foolishly playing the­ underdogs in the final in a desperate move to surprise­ the all blacks. What a poor world cup the french had,­ they shouldn't have been there in the first place.­ The all blacks have learned from their past mistakes,­ they never unleashed the power of their backs and let­ the forwards surely and securely win the fights. And­ believe me, if the AB have to play the french side­ tomorrow, they would crash them. full stop.

    From dadismima, on Tue 25 Oct 12:27PM

  3. j197749, run back to mommy you little shyt.

    From Mr E Walters, on Tue 25 Oct 11:17AM

  4. What posessed Lievremont to think that a line of­ Frenchmen holding hands is an intimidating response to­ the Haka?

    From RT, on Tue 25 Oct 10:55AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    mr edward walters the big man ha ha ha ha if you cant­ take it boy dont give it you have done nothing but slag­ the the welsh off what do you we will just take it, i­ for 1 dont care what you are or what you say you have­ been boy,couldnt stick more than 8 years then mr hard­ man e walters, now how do you like it,just get off here­ and let us that want to talk rugby talk rugby,not look­ for some 1 to fall out with

    From Jason, on Tue 25 Oct 10:40AM

  6. CE, word of advice,shut your stinking pie hole, thats a­ good lad. Tosser.

    From Mr E Walters, on Tue 25 Oct 10:27AM

  7. The good news of course is that Wales have slid down­ the IRB World Rankings to eighth, below Argentina who­ are ranked seventh!

    Best wishes France for the next­ RWC (2015) in England.

    As for Wales -­ hahahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From David Peter, on Tue 25 Oct 8:23AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Yes Mr Edward ...u take exception....word of­ advice...just stay off Yahoo..that easy­ really...goodbye....stepping down......of course here­ you­ are....................................................­ .......................................................­ .......................................................­ .......................................................­ .......................................................­ .......................................................­ .......................................................­ ..................

    From CE, on Tue 25 Oct 2:38AM

  9. Kel #5..nothing wrong with being a nationalist, its in­ the blood, and I can assure you Mr Salmond is not­ crazy, he is the premier politician in the UK by a­ country mile. would take the 'Eton Boys' to­ town any day.

    From john sloop b, on Mon 24 Oct 11:48PM

  10. The French will be kicking themselves,they know they­ should have won that game, if they had a kicker they­ would have. that was a magnificent effort by the­ French, its just amazing how unpredictable they­ are.they made what everybody thought was going to be a­ one sided game into a classic..amazing!

    From john sloop b, on Mon 24 Oct 11:43PM

  11. CE, Paul singled me out by name for no reason, so yes,­ i do take exception of his comments. i originally went­ on this thread to congratulate the French team. Believe­ the welsh coward paul is ONLY brave while on his­ computer, the guy wouldn't say that shyt to my­ face, as an ex royal engineer of 8 years i have seen­ and been to places in which people like you and paul­ would soil yourself instantly. If you want to start­ with me, step up.

    From Mr E Walters, on Mon 24 Oct 11:32PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Mr Edward Walters...u always seem to be arguing with/or­ taking exception at other people and their comments­ ...wouldn't Paul be in front of his computer if he­ was typing? and what's to say he's a coward?

    From CE, on Mon 24 Oct 11:14PM

  13. Good comment Lone Star. Please tell your fellow­ citizens that the next time they organize this­ competition, they needn't insult everyone to prove­ that they are the best. There is certainly a lot of­ fantastic people in NZ but most of you gave a poor­ image of your country at the end of the day.

    From Lisle-Boisseau, on Mon 24 Oct 9:02PM

  14. @ K : what did you personaly win in your sad little­ miserable life ?
    The world best tosser I guess !!!!!

    From DRILLIEN, on Mon 24 Oct 8:55PM

  15. I see no difference between the first and second half,­ both France dominated the game (territory and ball).

    From Robert, on Mon 24 Oct 8:05PM

  16. This tournament has been one where the better teams­ lost on the day,Allez les Bleus!

    From Jean, on Mon 24 Oct 6:59PM

  17. Thank you monsieur lievremont for being a great coach­ and role model for french rugby!Allez les Bleus!And­ thank you thierry for leading courageously from the­ front!

    From Jean, on Mon 24 Oct 6:37PM

  18. Paul, brave man behind your computer arnt you? I am­ English but that dosnt mean that i'm Anglo-Saxon.­ Yeah, i'm really upset that the Welsh beat England,­ boo hoo. Get a grip and grow up you silly sheep­ molesting fuctard.

    From Mr E Walters, on Mon 24 Oct 6:20PM

  19. Well done to France,the best team to ever reach a World­ Cup Final and lose!The shining light of northern­ hemisphere rugby!Allez les Bleus!

    From Jean, on Mon 24 Oct 6:05PM

  20. Has MaCaw been cited for the knee to the head od Parra.­ Thought not. Differant rules for NZ same as always.

    From john b, on Mon 24 Oct 5:09PM
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