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Subscribe to RSS FeedStakes still high for Les Bleus
Raphaël Ibañez: Looking forward to 'special match'
France captain Raphaël Ibañez insists the stakes remain high going into his side's Rugby World Cup bronze-medal match against Argentina on Friday.
The tournament's play-off for third and fourth place is seen by many as a non-event - but it has some added spice this time round.
Les Bleus took a blow to their pride in losing to the Pumas 17-12 on the opening night of the competition, and the hosts will be gunning for revenge.
It also signifies the last match as France coach for Bernard Laporte, while a number of the team's players - such as Fabien Pelous and Ibañez - will probably be bidding farewell to the international game.
From Argentina's point of view, they will be looking to again show they are worthy of a place on rugby's top table and are a force to be reckoned with.
Both teams appear to be taking it seriously, with Ibanez labelling it a "special match".
"Any match for the French team should be treated with due respect," said the Wasps hooker, whose side lost to England in heartbreaking fashion in last Saturday's semi-final.
"I'll be happy to be there. I'm not the sort to run away, even after a loss in a World Cup semi-final on French soil.
"Argentina hurt us during the opening match, so it's obviously going to be a special match.
"I felt privileged to see my name on the list as I wasn't really expecting it. Now I'm ready for a good match - we need it."
The mood in the French camp will have been downbeat all week, considering the manner of their defeat to England.
"We're kind of in-between at the moment - we're halfway between the loss in the semi-final and the bronze-medal match," added Ibañez.
"But that's normal; it takes time to deal with that kind of thing."
Laporte, who will take up a role as junior minister for sport in Nicolas Sarkozy's French government after the World Cup, believes the match is important in view of the forthcoming Six Nations championship.
"The players have their pride, their will to win," said Laporte.
"Many of them will be eager to put on a good show as their career is continuing. In three months' time, there's the Six Nations.
"So this third-place match is a step in their career.
"We've got a heavy heart but we owe it to ourselves to finish well. We played a great quarter-final against New Zealand and narrowly lost the semi-final.
"Now we must secure this third place."
