New Zealand WCUP Rugby World Cup Players to Watch
FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2008 file photo France's Francois Trinh-Duc, center, is tackled by England's Michael Lipman , left, and Nick Easter during th...
FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2008 file photo France's Francois Trinh-Duc, center, is tackled by England's Michael Lipman , left, and Nick Easter during their Six Nations tournament rugby union match at the Stade de France, Paris. The Montpellier flyhalf, who mixes Italian and Vietnamese heritage, has developed this year into a player of world class. He is a strong runner, adept tactical kicker and one of the best drop goal exponents in international rugby. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
New Zealand WCUP Rugby World Cup France
France's rugby team players look at Dimitri Yachvili, center, during a training session for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, in Auckland, New Zealand, ...
France's rugby team players look at Dimitri Yachvili, center, during a training session for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, in Auckland, New Zealand, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. France will play Japan in it's opening game on Saturday Sept. 10. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
New Zealand WCUP Rugby World Cup France
France's rugby team players Francois Trinh Duc, center, Dimitri Yachvili, top and Morgan Parra challenge for the ball during a training session for t...
France's rugby team players Francois Trinh Duc, center, Dimitri Yachvili, top and Morgan Parra challenge for the ball during a training session for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, in Auckland, New Zealand, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. France will play Japan in it's opening game on Saturday Sept. 10. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
New Zealand WCUP Rugby World Cup France
France's rugby team player Dimitri Yachvili, right, passes the ball as Morgan Parra tries to catch it during a training session for the upcoming Rugb...
France's rugby team player Dimitri Yachvili, right, passes the ball as Morgan Parra tries to catch it during a training session for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, in Auckland, New Zealand, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. France will play Japan in it's opening game on Saturday Sept. 10. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
'Winning ugly' is an alien concept in French rugby, but flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc is happy for the French to shed a little of their trademark flair if it leads to World Cup glory.
Despite holding the keys for the French passing game, which promises to be slick against Japan on Saturday with three Toulouse players in the backs, Trinh-Duc wants some pragmatism to go with the panache.
He says pragmatism "has notably been the strength of teams that have won the last World Cups, England and South Africa" and that "you have to get the points before you start showing lovely combinations."
Two-time runner-up France lost to New Zealand in the 1987 final and to Australia in '99. Both times its trademark running game was stifled and there was no backup plan.
