Lièvremont wary of 'wonderful' Wales

One thing is certain about France's approach to their Rugby World Cup 2011 semi-final against Wales: they are taking their opponents very seriously.

So much so that one of the first thing Les Bleus did after their quarter-final victory over England was go to a pub a few metres from their hotel restaurant, and a celebratory drink was not the main item on their agenda.

The watering hole was showing a replay of Wales's impressive 22-10 win over Ireland in Saturday's opening quarter-final, and it had the French players' full attention.

"They have been very studious," coach Marc Lièvremont told a press conference at the team's Auckland hotel on Sunday.

France, he said, were impressed by the flying Welshmen who will line up against them at Eden Park on 15 October.

"I find them excellent and in really good shape," said Lièvremont . "They play very good rugby, in all areas. I’ve been impressed by how they kept Ireland under control, because the Irish were in good shape, too.

Very courageous

"The Welsh play more or less the same rugby as three years ago, but their forwards are more mobile and still very courageous.

"They have a wonderful backline and the best centre of the competition, Jamie Roberts. I like their back row, and their big second row, (Luke) Charteris.

"They are full of confidence, they came out of the toughest pool and should have beaten South Africa (in their Pool D opener on 11 September, which the Springboks won 17-16)."

The France coach was also impressed when he met Les Bleus' semi-final rivals in person when the teams found themselves staying for one night at the same hotel.

"For Welsh guys, they looked pretty fresh for the day after a win," said Lièvremont. "I found them in good shape. It’s better to meet them here than at the airport to go back home."

France were also impressive in their victory over old foes England on Saturday, but Lièvremont emphasised that he does not want that win to make his squad over-confident.
Hype danger

"The risk is to spend the week being congratulated, to see agents promising us great things, to be kept busy by the media, to believe we are such great players," he said.

"But yesterday we had the same players out there as in Wellington against Tonga, except that they grew a big pair of balls."

The defeat by Tonga on 1 October, widely viewed as the biggest upset of RWC 2011, was France's second loss in pool play.

Despite that, they progressed to the knockout stage of the tournament - only the second team in Rugby World Cup history to do so after losing two pool matches.

Saturday's semi-final against Wales will be the 91st time the teams have met. Their first match was in 1908, and history shows little between the teams over the decades.

France have won 43 times, Wales 44, with three draws and only two points in total between them: 1,307 to France, 1,305 to Wales.