OMEN
09-03-2007, 09:43 PM
France's old fox is at it again.
French coach Bernard Laporte has conceded the All Blacks are favourites to win the Rugby World Cup - but there was still a sting in the tail.
He has also issued a typically enigmatic warning.
"The All Blacks are favourites, that is logical," he told the Sunday magazine of the French daily Le Figaro.
"But the favourites don't always win. The Brazilian footballers have found that out several times."
Still Laporte claimed "all the world dreams" of a World Cup final featuring the All Blacks and France, "like France-Brazil constitutes the ideal match in football".
He said the southern hemisphere, with South Africa and Australia, and especially the All Blacks, had the better current rugby record.
But the northern hemisphere had shown it could be competitive and England were the defending champions.
Fairfax Media
French coach Bernard Laporte has conceded the All Blacks are favourites to win the Rugby World Cup - but there was still a sting in the tail.
He has also issued a typically enigmatic warning.
"The All Blacks are favourites, that is logical," he told the Sunday magazine of the French daily Le Figaro.
"But the favourites don't always win. The Brazilian footballers have found that out several times."
Still Laporte claimed "all the world dreams" of a World Cup final featuring the All Blacks and France, "like France-Brazil constitutes the ideal match in football".
He said the southern hemisphere, with South Africa and Australia, and especially the All Blacks, had the better current rugby record.
But the northern hemisphere had shown it could be competitive and England were the defending champions.
Fairfax Media