France head coach Philippe Saint-Andre insists France can still be contenders at the 2015 Rugby World Cup despite their poor results in recent months.
A 39-13 loss to Australia in the final Test of their summer tour in Sydney consigned Les Bleus to a series whitewash, a year after they suffered the same fate at the hands of New Zealand.
Saint-Andre’s men have now lost 13 of their last 19 games, a run which has incorporated the 2013 and 2014 RBS 6 Nations tournaments in which France finished sixth and fourth respectively.
But the 47-year-old believes history shows that it would be wrong to rule out France as a potential finalist in 16 months’ time.
“We know that, over time, [we] can do wonders,” Saint-Andre said.
“The team conceded 50 points in New Zealand three or four months before the 1999 Rugby World Cup but still reached the final.
“Then in 2010 they conceded 50 points at the Stade de France against Australia, and yet 15 months later they failed by a point in the final against the All Blacks.”
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