Shaun Edwards has been winning friends and admirers all his rugby life. Now he has a new one who calls the Elysee Palace his home, President Macron.
As the France defence coach told the man who runs the country after the hosts' opening win over the All Blacks: “Chaque fois vous arrivez, nous gagnon'' (whenever you come to watch, we win).
“He's been three times and we've won them all,'' Edwards said in his newspaper column. “The lads gave him a beer and got him to down it in one while they all cheered him on. He was a good sport.''
Since then, France have proved they can win without him, thrashing the game but hopelessly outclassed Namibians 96-0, the biggest mis-match at any World Cup since England disposed of Uruguay 111-13 in Brisbane 20 years ago.
Maybe Macron knew what was coming….
