EX-PLAYERS PUT THE BOOT INTO FRENCH

FRENCH rugby is in turmoil and ex players are lining up to stick the boot in after yesterday’s thrashing at Twickenham. It was their 16th defeat in 19 Tests and Les Bleus look to be in freefall at the moment. An array of former Test stars are not holding back the criticism. Former scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili declared French rugby as ‘sick’ earlier this week while Thomas Castaignede — a mercurial out-half in his day — slammed Jacques Brunel’s selection policy, citing the promotion of South African-born lock Paul Willemse to the starting line-up against Wales as a disgrace. Something is rotten in French rugby at present.