Paris — You do not need much to stir the emotions here. There is a minirevolution around every corner. France’s rugby bosses have invoked the ire of their constituents by having a star-studded French XV play the New Zealand tourists‚ three days after their national team played the All Blacks and four days before they are to engage SA. Springbok rugby may not be in the rudest health at the moment, but by including players such as giant lock Yoann Maestri‚ creative flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc‚ South African-born fullback Scott Spedding‚ Hugo Bonneval‚ Romain Taufifenua‚ as well as flyhalf Jules Plisson, who is on the bench‚ the French have their resources spread thin. The local media has derided the contest as nothing more than an exhibition throw-around for which Test caps will not be handed out. It is unlikely France coach Guy Noves will include any of the players who played on Tuesday night in his team to face the Boks on Saturday. The experienced Maestri‚ who has 59 caps‚ did not a...
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