This is so typically French rugby that we really should have seen it coming.
Former Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman has his ear to the ground over in France, and he has taken to twitter to reveal that reports have emerged claiming French Rugby head coach Phillipe Saint Andre has been axed.
With the relatively simple task of a Rugby World Cup quarter-final against the New Zealand All Blacks waiting for them on Saturday, there couldn't be a better time for a bit of chaos.
Reports in France that Phillipe Saint Andre has been ousted and the players are coaching themselves this week. Play All Blacks Saturday!
— Bernard Jackman (@bernardjackman) October 15, 2015
The players have been coaching themselves? Wow. It certainly is believable when you consider the photo that popped up between Yoann Maestri and Saint-Andre after their loss to Ireland:
French Revolution? @midi_olympique shows a photo of Yoann Maestri shouldering Phillipe Saint Andre after loss to #IRE pic.twitter.com/wMsESbdxc0
— Inferno Productions (@InfernoProTV) October 12, 2015
While it certainly is shocking, is this bad news for New Zealand? Right when everything appears to be going wrong is typically where the French play their best rugby, and they will facing the Kiwis with nothing to lose.
That said, beating the All Blacks without a coach would be one hell of a feat.