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French fear November nights

Thursday 20th November 2008

Cedric Heymans: Not looking forward to night-time high balls

A curious pair of concerns has arisen among French players ahead of their clash with Australia on Saturday: the weather and the time.

Both wing Cedric Heymans and flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo had a good moan on Thursday about the scheduling of the game, which kicks off at 2100 local time at the behest of various TV channels.

"We know that we could grab fourth place if we beat Australia and England lose their next two games against South Africa and New Zealand. That's highly important, it could alter the face of the World Cup," Heymans told reporters.

"I don't understand how people could schedule such an important game at 2100 in November.

Autumn nights in France are usually either damp or freezing cold; neither of which are conducive to open rugby. The last late kick-off was two weeks ago, when France sent everyone to sleep with a 12-6 win over Argentina.

"All my team mates agree, and we already said so after the Argentina test," said Heymans.

"We know perfectly well that in November in Paris, at 2100, there will be humidity and maybe rain, it will be cold, the pitch will be slippery and the ball difficult to handle."

Flanker Fulgence Oudraogo complained that the late kick off could favour the Wallabies.

"A dry pitch, no humididity would have been better. We want to play a wide game whereas the Australians like to kick the ball for territorial advantage and don't take risks in their own half," he said.