French team confident

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33058, 27 October 1972, Page 24

French team confident

(From

ALAN GRAHAM.

N.Z.P.A. staff comspondent)

MARSEILLES.

Never has the French Rugby League XIII been better prepared. So reads a headline in the “L’Equipc” the famous French sporting paper, describing the fitness of the team which plays New Zealand in the opening World Cup game in Marseilles on Saturday (local time).

Selected by three former French captains —A. Jiminez (1960. M. Bescos (1966), and G. Ailleres, the tough prop who led France at Carlaw Park in 1968, the tricolours have been in hard training for several months.

"We were annoyed to lose to New Zealand last year,” said Mr Jiminez. “We played three tests, and we did not win any of them. We also lost to New Zealand the previous year at Hull. "This year we have trained very hard; this year France will win.”

Mr Ailleres has supervised training, and he has demanded much.

As a first step in the French work-up, a big squad was named some months ago to prepare physically for the World Cup. Only one of the 19 French World Cup players, the surprise hooker choice, J. Franc, was not named in this original squad. VITAL MATCH With Australia and Britain hot favourites to make the final, France and New Zealand naturally regard the match between themselves on Saturday as vital. The winner stands a chance of sneaking a win or a draw against Britain or Australia, and thus securing a place in the final. The loser might easily finish at the bottom of the table. The French team is: R. Toujas; S. Marsolan, M. Molinier, A. Ruiz, J. Bonal; B. Guilhem, M. Frattini; M. Anglade; V. Serrano, S. Gleyzes; F. de Nadai (captain), J. Franc, J. Garzino. Substitutes: E. Bonal, C. Zalduendo. The New Zealand officials lost their bid to have a neutral referee for the match against France. The international Rugby league board ruled that a

French referee. Mr M. Jameau. will take the game. The New Zealand Rugby league World Cup team was far from happy with its hotel when it arrived in Marseilles. The hotel is small, the rooms are tiny, the bathrooms are few, and they are usually locked, and there were no soap and towels until an interpreter intervened. There is no good lounge, and the hotel is in a part of the city that even the toughest of the Kiwis described as "really rough.” But the meals are the best the team has had in France.