Jauzion`s advice for England

France centre Yannick Jauzion believes England will have to change their approach this weekend if they are to become the first team to successfully defend the World Cup.

After looking down and out a month ago, England have shown tremendous powers of recovery and reached the final thanks to a 14-9 victory over Les Bleus in Saturday's tension-filled semi-final in Paris.

A reliance on forward power and the boot of Jonny Wilkinson has done the trick for coach Brian Ashton, whose team squeezed past Australia 12-10 in Marseille last weekend in just as tight a game.

Jauzion feels pragmatism and playing the percentages have been the keys to England's belated success this tournament, but doubts whether Ashton's men have another big match in them.

"The English did not do a great deal against us. They just waited,'' said the Toulouse midfield star, one of a number of France players who struggled to combat England's suffocating defence on Saturday.

"In these types of closely-fought matches, it is the team that is the more realistic that wins. The team that takes their chances when they come.

"Last week (against New Zealand), we did that and we won. This time, it went in their favour.

"I don't think we did enough. It's easy to say after the event but you have to ask yourself if you can win three matches in a row that are so tight.

"I am not sure that the English, playing like that, will win next week.''

In the end, France paid the price for their heroic efforts in beating the All Blacks last weekend.

The 20-18 win in Cardiff was a sensational result based on obdurate defending and attacking opportunism, but Les Bleus could not repeat their exploits a week later.

Scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde admitted on Friday the team were still feeling the effects of last weekend - they made 299 tackles against the Kiwis, and missed just fifteen.

After a bright start against England, they faded and opted to revert to their negative kicking game rather than the ball-in-hand approach that worked so well in the opening 20 minutes.

Having gone 5-0 behind when Josh Lewsey pounced on Damien Traille's error in the left corner, Lionel Beauxis kicked three penalties to put the hosts 9-5 ahead by the start of the second half.

But the world champions had more energy in the final quarter, and Wilkinson booted the goals that mattered in the final five minutes.

"We have lost two games in this World Cup against two teams (Argentina and now England) who have chosen not to go out and play," said Jauzion.

"You have to have a compromise between a kicking game and keeping the ball in hand. We did it last week but not here.

"We did not have the necessary means and that made us play a more restricted game.

"Yes, the victory over the All Blacks left its traces. You could see that the English had that little extra that allowed them to be there to nick the balls and be better placed.

"They did not surprise or trouble us. Far from it. But we still can't win these close matches.''

Jauzion was in the France team that lost to England at the same stage four years ago in Australia, Wilkinson again the tormentor with all of England's points in a 24-7 win in Sydney.

The 29-year-old admitted defeat was harder to take this time round.

"We had so many ambitions. We thought we had the potential in this group to go further than 2003.

"But that has not been the case.''

France now have to pick themselves up for the play-off for third and fourth place, which is played on Friday at the Parc des Princes.

It will be a send-off for head coach Bernard Laporte, who will leave his post at the end of the tournament to take up a position in the French government.

The hosts should make a number of changes to their side, but team manager Jo Maso is desperate for Laporte's reign to end on a high.

"We will offer this match for third place to Bernard Laporte,'' said Maso.

"He has been a coach without fail, even if we have lived some tough moments.''

"We have a great team spirit. I think everyone will want to play in that game," said Laporte.

"Preparations for the 2011 World Cup start here and it is an important match for the future France coach.''

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