Rugby: France plays Tongo in Japan's Kumamoto city but memories of 2011 loss to Tongo are still fresh
France's wing Alivereti Raka is tackled by US wing Martin Iosefo during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between France and the US at the Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium in Fukuoka on October 2, 2019.
A France squad, riven by disharmony and in open rebellion against coach Marc Lievremont, ultimately regrouped to reach the final and lose by a point to the All Blacks.Eight years on, France, one of the youngest outfits in Japan, have only fullback Maxime Medard from the Les Bleus team that was pilloried by media and fans after the Tonga turmoil.
The squad's tournament-ending injuries now number four, with winger Wesley Fofana and prop Demba Bamba having already exited. Brunel, however, said the team was set in stone for 10 days and refuted reporters' suggestions the players had been trained too hard. Prop Jefferson Poirot will become France's third captain at the World Cup, with regular skipper Guilhem Guirado on the bench again and number eight Louis Picamoles, who led the side against the US, rested.Tonga, however, were buoyed by their strong second half against Argentina and may feel they can revive the glory days of 2011 should they maintain the intensity against what appears a brittle French side under pressure.
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