"Je ne sais pas quoi dire..." tweeted Sebastian Chabal, as the reality of how close this 2011 RWC final set in.
What will the outgoing coach say, though ? Will he, like Bernard Laporte, shrug his shoulders and say "Boff" to the world and disappear ?
Both men know that their respective squads WERE good enough to win a World Cup. France produces high quality players, born into the cauldron of intensity that is the Top 14. They are usually involved in the latter stages of the Heineken Cup. These guys can play.
And today, at Eden Park, as a unit the French back row outplayed the All Blacks. Rougerie smashed into the Kiwi midfield, giving Nonu his most uncomfortable afternoon for quite some time. As is often the case when the Blacks have their backs to the wall, it was McCaw's cussedness that kept them afloat. French fans will be left ruing referee Joubert's liberal interpretation of the breakdown laws, as well as his frankly clueless control of the scrum.
Perhaps, at the last, it was All Black coherence that won through, and yes, perhaps the task of getting enough Kiwi territory in the closing minutes for Trinn-Duc to have a pot at goal was a step too far for rugby's Sans Culottes, but Lievremont will hope to get home, have a think, hopefully a shave, then find a team to coach.
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