Nobody is talking about France so let Balls.ie formally congratulate Guy Noves' men on their first Six Nations win over Ireland since 2011. It was about the worst Six Nations game we have ever watched but for a team who only notched one win out of 12 Six Nations games against Ireland, England and Wales during Philippe Saint-Andre's tenure it was welcome nonetheless.
Guy Noves' Toulouse team played swashbucklingly attractive rugby during the majority of his time there and it is just a pity that the talent in France has dried up so significantly.
We wanted to pay tribute to some of the maverick players that came before the current team. Sure we could show you clips of great French tries or put together an all-time flair XV... but how about a celebration of the most glorious names in the history of French rugby instead?
I knew you would be on board.
Aurelien Rougerie
The Frenchest man in rugby? The name is almost as glorious as the lustrous locks of hair.
Jean Pierre Rives
Nobody does double barrel first names quite like the French. Jean Pierre just has a more sophisticated ring to it than John Joe, doesn't it?
Philippe Saint-Andre
It's ironic that the most reductive coach in French history also happened to play some of their most innovative rugby. Sport can be funny like that.
Remy Martin
Pop quiz: Has there ever been a really successful bleach blonde rugby player? *Thinking*
Didn't Denis Hickie have frosted tips at one stage?
Jaysus, they were more than frosted.
Wesley Fofana
It's fun to watch this guy play, not only because he is an exciting attacker but also because you can add a bit of a theatrical flourish to how you say his name - 'Foe-Fan-aaa'.
Yoann Huget
The only person in world sport who can match Kenny Cunningham when it comes to demonstrative eyebrows.
Vincent Clerc
Van-Sant Clare-k. I only hate him because he hates Ireland.
Clement Poitrenaud
Toulouse assistant coach: So Guy, I'm thinking of promoting an academy player to the senior team. He is really good under the high...
Guy Noves: But does he have a great name though?
Imanol Harinordoquy
I swear that I spelled that correctly on the first try without using Google.
Thierry Dusautoir
Poor Ryle Nugent must be devastated at not being able to indulge himself during commentary with an elongated 'Thierrry Dusautoir' anymore.
Christophe Dominici
This has been far too glowing a post towards France - they beat us after all. Remember the time Dominici dropped that clanger against Italy?*
*Dominici seems to have had the footage of that howler scrubbed from the internet, the sneak.
Emile N'Tamack
An apostrophe within a name? Such madness has to be French.
Olivier Magne
This guy was a Rolls Royce of a flanker.
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde
What's more French, his name or his designer stubble?
Marc Lievremont
The porniest of moustaches rounds out this list of glorious names. Did we leave out any good ones?
