Join us on a journey through the ups and downs of rugby, and discover a world where every anecdote has its place in history. Whether you're a long-time enthusiast or a novice looking to perfect your knowledge in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup 2023, this episode is for you. We take you behind the scenes of the French rugby team, to discover some of the unusual stories that have shaped its history. With these anecdotes in your pocket, you'll be the star of the cantoche during rugby discussions, while fine-tuning your predictions on Scorecast Business. So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready to be amazed by these untold stories from Les Bleus!
In 2007, Les Bleus became one with the Blacks
In the quarter-finals of the World Cup, France face New Zealand and have a choice of jersey color. Manager Jo Maso opts for midnight blue. Problem: with the Blacks playing in black, the two teams were going to look the same on television. Neither team wanted to play in white and a compromise was reached 12 hours before kick-off: the Blacks would play in grey and the Blues would wear white shorts.
In 2003, a rooster named Diomedes
Just before the World Cup, Jo Maso, once again, took the floor to mobilize his entire group: "In the life of a group, everyone has a role to play. There are 30 of you embarking on this adventure. I want everyone to behave in the same way as Bernard Diomède did during the 1998 World Cup. He didn't play much, but he always had a positive influence." When an Australian farmer lends the players a rooster, they call it "Diomède". Every evening, a player is assigned to look after it. The hotel where they are staying will even play along, providing a room and a cage for the Diomède rooster.
In 1999, the invisible yogurt shooter
Before the World Cup, the team was not in good shape and the squad was divided. To bind the troops together, coaches Jean-Claude Skrela and Pierre Villepreux send everyone on a commando training camp in Aveyron. To reach a cave, the players had to climb a steep, rocky path. In his book Histoires secrètes des Bleus, Christophe Dominici recounts: "So we built a long human chain to carry all the victories. From the top of the rocks, someone threw yoghurt at Jean-Claude Skrela and Max Godemet, his deputy. They were covered in it. We never found out who it was.
We hope you've enjoyed this dive into the fascinating world of rugby and these unusual anecdotes about Les Bleus. These stories tell you a lot about the character of the team, and may even help you refine your predictions for the Rugby World Cup 2023. So get ready for episode 6, a quiz that will test your knowledge acquired in previous episodes. Thanks to Scorecast Business, not only will you enjoy every match, but you could also be your company's prediction champion. So stay tuned for the next episode of our Rugby World Cup 2023 Guide, and in the meantime, may the best prediction win!
