I was in Paris when France beat New Zealand in November. After the match, I met some of the players. I do not think I have ever seen the members of a French cadre so relaxed in the company of each other, so closely as a unit – and I contain my time in the international setup.
Of course, appearances can be misleading – team spirit is, as one once remarked, an illusion that emerges in the aftermath of victory. However, this coherence is consistent with something I observed while watching the Top 14. It was the way the France players – on the opposite sides for their clubs – shook hands and recognized each other after the final whistle.
It was a relationship I did not have often
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