France unfazed by sea of All Black support

With a sea of black engulfing the French as they prepare for the Rugby World Cup 2011 Final, it is little wonder they are taking an us-against-the-world approach to the match against New Zealand.

The French cannot step out of their downtown hotel without running into someone wearing an All Blacks jersey or seeing an All Blacks flag fluttering from a passing car.

There are All Blacks posters in windows, and massive shots of All Blacks players promoting products throughout the heart of New Zealand's biggest city.

It is All Blacks, all the time, everywhere.

There's even a feeling that the French are undeserving finalists. France are the first team to reach the tournament decider after losing two pool games. The French also readily admit they have under-performed on the road to what French players call the dream Final.

It's little wonder they feel abandoned, without support.

"I don't think there are many of them left. They never thought we would make it to the Final,'' second row Pascal Papé said on Wednesday about the absence of Les Bleus fans around town. "There are lots of All Blacks supporters and that will bring us together even more.

Great motivation

"This is the World Cup Final and if there is any fear we might as well not bother turning up for the Final. The motivation is extreme. We can't fear this match. We know the French are behind us despite everything.''

The players have also had a testy relationship with coach Marc Lièvremont and a frosty rapport with some members of the French media.

"There was outcry about our win against the Welsh. It wasn't me who did not manage to score in the last five minutes,'' said veteran second row Lionel Nallet. "There has not been any recognition at all.

"All I can say is the team is happy and proud to be in the Final and we will play our cards on Sunday. I think we can't wait until Sunday."

The French emerged to meet the media on Wednesday for the first time since their 9-8 semi-final victory over Wales, and they faced endless questions about criticism directed at them on Sunday by Lièvremont when he called them "spoiled brats" for going out after the match.

Lièvremont backed off his comments when asked about them by the media when he named his starting XV for Sunday's match.

"I think I said those things to put pressure on them and when I read my words in the written press, I guess I could have stayed quiet,'' he said.

Nallet concurred. "I did not appreciate it at all but that is just my opinion. We already knew that the week was going to be complicated enough so perhaps there was no reason to add to that pressure,'' he said.

"Quite truthfully I did not like what he said. I do not want to go on about it. We have a final to play and we are not going to be focusing on things like this.'

All Black quality

The French know they are the underdogs. "They are all great players, and not just the back row, the team as a whole,'' said flanker Julien Bonnaire.

"They are tough in terms of impact and they have solid defence. They have it all and good for them. They will be everywhere on the pitch and we have nothing to lose. We will need a perfect match."

But the French insist that the worst is behind them.

"Fifteen men in white will come on the field and 15 men in black will come on the field and the best team will win,'' said Lièvremont.

The French also believe that the anti-France feeling that has grown since the semi-final victory over Wales will inspire them.

"It motivates us even more. It's like we are alone in this world,'' said Papé. "It gives us another push, but it is not a problem."

Kicking coach Gonzalo Quesada said his team had done everything that had been asked of them.

"Our goal in the pool stage was to advance and we did it. Then our goal was to win the quarters and the semis and we did that. We have nothing to answer for.

"The players know the type of rugby they have to play to win and that is what they are concerned with."