France 14 Tonga 19: France coach not happy with team

France coach Marc Lievremont conceded after the “shame” of Saturday’s shock defeat to Tonga that his squad are not united.

Lievremont compared his squad to the French football team, who refused to train at the 2010 World Cup following a row between then-coach Raymond Domenech and striker Nicolas Anelka.

“I thought I had experienced everything in terms of shame,” said Lievremont, as he reflected on the Tonga game. “But this time round, it’s been an extremely violent feeling again. Each missed pass, each missed tackle, I took them as a deep personal failure.

“(Afterwards) I would have liked for us to gather around a few drinks to talk, to share thoughts, to release the pressure – and I was disappointed. We all split in different directions.

“We live in a society where image matters. I saw players with their agent on the eve and after the game instead of regrouping as a team. They have their career to manage, and perhaps the media to please.

“French rugby and players laughed at the French football players last year. But in some respect, we didn’t get off the bus either.”