French focus is key, insists Lievremont

Having been in an apparent state of disarray after losing to Tonga in the pool stages, France pulled out their best performance of the World Cup to beat England 19-12 last weekend.

Les Bleus also go into Saturday’s showdown knowing they have beaten Wales in each of their last three encounters, including a comfortable victory in this year’s Six Nations.

But Lievremont knows from first-hand experience the dangers of dwelling on past results and performances.

The last of his 25 caps was in the 1999 World Cup final defeat to Australia, a week after Les Bleus had shocked New Zealand at Twickenham.

France are bidding to avoid a third consecutive World Cup semi-final defeat.

“In the last three years we have managed to beat Wales, but if we start looking at it from that angle, it’s a recipe for disaster,” Lievremont said.

“The risk in rugby is always that you can rest on our laurels. What we need now is to keep concentrated, to remain aggressive. Obviously we have to play a lot better.”

England captain Lewis Moody will be fined £4,800 if he is found to have worn a branded mouthguard in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat by France, the IRB have said.

Tournament officials are very strict on any breaches of the commercial regulations and they have already fined Moody’s England team-mate Manu Tuilagi and the latter’s brother Alesana Tuilagi, who plays for Samoa.

An International Rugby Board representative confirmed Moody would be hit with the same standard NZ$10,000 fine if the allegation is proven.

A Rugby Football Union spokesman said England, who returned home from New Zealand yesterday, had not received any communication on the matter from the International Rugby Board.