Shane Williams’ column: It’s criminal that Wesley Fofana is wasted by Philippe Saint-Andre

Trying to work out the French is like trying to crack the Enigma machine. Just like the real thing, there appear to be countless combinations that change endlessly and even when all the parts seem to be in place, it still leaves you baffled.
For a start, I can’t fathom why they are not making the most of their wonderfully talented backs. Judging by the first two rounds of games in the Six Nations, their head coach Philippe Saint-Andre should be arrested for crimes against rugby.
He has some of the most dangerous backs in the Championship in Yoann Huget, Wesley Fofana, Teddy Thomas and Scott Spedding. So his refusal to use them is just criminal.
Saint-Andre seems obsessed with just using the big guys up front and France are just being far too direct.
Mathieu Bastareaud had only one instruction against Ireland and that was to run straight at Jonathan Sexton. The problem was that Ireland knew it was coming and dealt with it.
France need to be smarter and play to their natural strengths because if they do, they can be world-beaters.
Despite his obvious strength, Bastareaud can also be a creative player, especially by creating space for others with defences doubling up. But outside him, Fofana, one of the most gifted players around, barely touched the ball last week and that was such a shame.
France barely got out of third gear against Scotland and spluttered against Ireland, only really getting going when it was too late. But when they did, they were wonderful and that makes me worried for Wales next week because this French team has the makings of a great team.
They’ve got some absolute monsters to bring on. Guys like Uini Atonio and Romain Taofifenua are some of the biggest players I’ve ever seen. But they’re not just big lads, they’ve got wonderful handling skills to chuck the ball around and they made a huge difference in Dublin. To have that option on the bench is what every coach dreams of. Saint-Andre is picking from the best domestic league in world rugby and France have always had amazing strength in depth.
But weirdly, that has sometimes been their biggest problem. For the last few years they have kept tinkering, changing, swapping and the team performance has suffered as a result.
However they are getting some continuity in their selection and if Saint-Andre sticks with this team, they are only going to get better as the tournament goes on and, ultimately, towards the World Cup. If this side clicks, I think they could take on anyone.
There are still a couple of things they need to tighten up and their discipline let them down against Ireland.
But they have a huge pack, the set-piece is solid, they are competing at the breakdown now far more than they used to and they have ball-carriers right across the pitch.
They also seem to have a bit of spirit about them if the second half against Ireland was anything to go by.
So when you add to that they have a point to prove against Wales after criticism they’ve been getting this week, it makes me fearful.
Wales have to find a way to match that sheer power up front and they have to sort out the set-piece because France could hurt them.
But the one thing any away team has when they go to Stade de France, is the ability to turn the crowd. The French fans are noisy and boisterous, it’s a wonderful place to play. But when I was playing, we always knew they could be turned.
If you let France find their confidence it will be a very long day at the office with the shouts of “allez” ringing in your ears.
But the longer you can stay in the fight, those fans start getting restless and aren’t afraid to let their team know. In 2005 we had a torrid first-half but somehow managed to stay in touch. Then we hit them with two quick tries at the start of the second half and their heads went.
Wales did the same two years ago when they were dogged, kept chipping away and then George North grabbed a winner as France buckled. Somehow they must try to do that again.
*This article was first published in The Rugby Paper on February 22.