FRENCH COLUMN
JAMES HARRINGTON

Veteran: Census Johnston, playing here for Racing 92, is still going strong for Bayonne at the age of 38

The Marseillaise is not regularly sung at Top 14 matches, but the French national anthem was ringing out at grounds across the country this weekend – while referees, coaches and captains sported bleu-blanc-rouge armbands – as rugby ramped up the patriotism and support for Les Bleus in Japan.
Generally pre-World Cup emotions in France are being held firmly in check. The Guy Noves-Jacques Brunel period has been far from a golden age. The seni...