Laporte expects forward thinking from England
France head coach Bernard Laporte is not expecting England to spring any surprises in Saturday’s World Cup semi-final in Paris.
The world champions used their power in the forwards to bludgeon their way past a weak Australia pack to set up last weekend’s 12-10 win in Marseille.
England coach Brian Ashton is again expected to rely on grunt up front to get the better of Les Bleus at the Stade de France on Saturday and Laporte knows what his side will be coming up against.
“England have made no tactical innovations,” said the France chief, who will quit his post at the end of the tournament to take up a position in the French government.
“They are strong up front and the strategy is there – in rucks, mauls, cleaning out the ball.
“We know them. They have a very, very strong pack and we will base our preparation around that.
“We are taking them very seriously.”
With England’s pack providing the team with plenty of go-forward and Jonny Wilkinson back fit and firing an improving back-line, Ashton’s men suddenly look the part after years of underperforming.
Wilkinson is always a key factor, as Laporte knows only too well.
At the semi-final stage of the 2003 World Cup, the Newcastle Falcons star booted the French out of the tournament thanks to a wonderful kicking display in a 24-7 win in a rainy Sydney.
The fly-half has overcome a mountain of injuries over the past four years to make it to his second World Cup, and Laporte is wary of the threat he poses.
“He has come back. He missed a couple of penalties on Saturday but is one of the driving forces of the team.
“He gives them confidence. They don’t go well if he isn’t there.
“It’s hard to say if he’s at his best level again, but he certainly looks good.”
France will still be buoyant following their sensational 20-18 victory over New Zealand on Saturday, and both their and England’s confidence will be sky-high going into the semi-final.
Les Bleus captain Raphael Ibanez believes this weekend will require another step-up by his men, though.
“This is an even bigger challenge,” said the Wasps hooker. “They are the world champions and they are competitors.
“It’s our biggest challenge of the competition so far and we all can’t wait to roll our sleeves up against a great opponent.
“We are not scared of the English but we respect them. They are the holders of the title and we must not forget that.
“I don’t want the team to be distracted by Saturday’s victory, even if it was beautiful for us. We have to roll up our sleeves now.
“We are in a fantastic, exciting phase, and it gives us a desire to win which is outside the norm.”
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