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    “Next year France will lift the World Cup”

    Apr 05, 2022 6 minutes
    Main Picture James Crombie/Inpho
    STUART BARNES

    The former England and Lions fly-half turned analyst

    IT WOULD take one hell of a Little Englander mentality to be surprised by this French Grand Slam. Fabien Galthié placed his faith in France’s next wave as soon as they lost to Wales in the 2019 World Cup. They were the best team in 2020 but too naïve to avoid the banana skin in Scotland. Last season Scotland beat them in Paris when they were chasing an outlandish points difference to overtake Wales; they also lost to England at Twickenham. Eddie Jones admitted the best team lost.

    The best team won this time as France conquered their nerves on a nasty Friday night trip to Cardiff before beating England with something in hand, if not emphatically. I have been watching this team closer than any side in the world. Next year they will become the second European team to lift the World Cup.

    In some ways these future

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