France are in an unprecedented trophy-drought and decade-long malaise, but when they stepped off the Principality pitch on Saturday as winners, they entered into uncharted territory. Could rugby’s greatest enigma have been solved?
For as long as people have been watching sport, France have been characterised as unpredictable. Inconsistent. Erratic.
In the sport’s first showpiece tournament in 1987, France beat pre-tournament favourites Australia to make the final, while 2007 saw Les Bleus – who had earlier been dispatched by Argentina on their own turf – knock out one of the most talented All Black sides ever at the quarter-final stage.
At the 2011 Rugby World Cup, France suffered the indignation and humiliation of a loss to minnows Tonga in the pool stages, before then reaching the final and, but for a derisory refereeing performance from Craig Joubert, would have beaten the All Blacks on Kiwi soil and become world champions.
