Oh, don't mind me. I'll just hang around here in Montpellier being the obvious man for the job.

In the words of Montell Jordan, “This is how we do it“: the FFR have given their backing to coach Marc Lievremont as he prepares his French team for the world cup on the back of home and away wins against Ireland by telling him that he’s out of a job after the tournament, regardless of the result. Ooh-la-la-la-la-la-la. Ce n’est pas formidable, mes amis etc.

Who’s the next coach? Not the man above, anyway. Philippe Saint-André will take the reins, fresh from his very limited success with an incredible squad of players [including ‘le’ Jonny Wilkinson, Felipe Contepomi, Carl Hayman, Joe van Niekerk, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, George Smith, Gabriel Lovabalavu and … eh, Paul Sackey] and a totally committed owner in Mourad Boudjellal who pumps millions of his comic-book francs into RC Toulon. Saint-André isn’t a bad coach, was a hell of a player and certainly has a better track record in the promo jacket than the man he is replacing, but Galthié would – to many here in Demented Mole Towers at least – be the very obvious man for the job. It’s just not to be, it would seem. C’est la vie.

Crazy behaviour from the FFR to announce that they’re not going to renew the coach’s contract mere weeks before the tournament though.

More: http://www.france24.com/en/20110823-philippe-saint-andre-become-french-rugby-coach