Marc Lièvremont, a World Cup under [high] tension (2/2)

2023-09-14T03:02:46.811Z

Highlights: On October 31, 1999, the French players did not believe it themselves. Propelled to the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup after a successful match against the Argentine Pumas, the Blues are preparing to face the All Blacks. "We tell ourselves that we have almost no chance, that it is a lost cause, but we will play the shot thoroughly," says Marc Lièvremont in the podcast "Les Géants du rugby", produced by Europe 1 Studio.

On October 31, 1999, the French players did not believe it themselves. Propelled to the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup after a successful match against the Argentine Pumas, the Blues are preparing to face the All Blacks. "We tell ourselves that we have almost no chance, that it is a lost cause, but we will play the shot thoroughly," says Marc Lièvremont in the podcast "Les Géants du rugby", produced by Europe 1 Studio. The third line of the XV of France celebrates its anniversary a few days before this match that will remain in the memories. His gift would simply be to avoid humiliation... No one thinks about victory then. It must be said that French rugby at the time was far from New Zealand professionalism. The conditions of preparation of the Blues are bad, their hotels low-end, their jerseys too big and nothing is done to facilitate their accompaniment by their loved ones. And yet, the Blues will surpass themselves on the field! Led by a few points at the end of the first half, Marc Lièvremont told his teammates: "All Blacks doubt, look at their eyes." Facing legendary players like winger Jona Lomu, the XV of France will achieve the feat in the second half. The tests are linked, the Twickenham public, galvanized, sings the Marseillaise and the French give everything, going as far as the muscle tear for Lièvremont. Against all odds, the Blues arrive at the gates of the final of the 1999 World Cup which is played against Australia. But the French players are already on a cloud: "After this match we never knew how to come down to Earth," says Lièvremont. Will they then be able to reproduce the feat? Marc Lièvremont shares his 1999 World Cup in "Les Géants du rugby", an original podcast produced by Europe 1 Studio.