DAVID BARNES
FRENCH COLUMN

Big rivalry: Guy Noves, left, and Bernard Laporte

Former France team boss Guy Noves did not pick up the phone that disturbed his sleep at 4.30 in the morning. And, when he later heard the abusive, obscenity-strewn message his caller had left, he was utterly disgusted.
“Noves, you are a ***** (homophobic insult), a crook, a sh*t. Every time we came to Toulouse, we gave you a spanking. You are a ***** (useless person).”
Noves recognised the voice of a former French international being egged on by pals after a celebration last June to mark the 20th...