So, it seems that even if the French squad isn't that steady when it comes to the back-row, at least Marc Lièvremont, Didier Retières and Emile Ntamack have a pretty good idea who will be in the forward pack that will be playing at the next World Cup.

When they announced their 30-man squad for the opening of the 2010 Six Nations, the only surprise was that they picked 16 forwards instead of 17. Usually, the French always select 2 players per position, with just one exception: three hookers. Here there was only two, William Servat and Dimitri Szarzewski. But if Szarzewski’s current injury proves to be serious, it will be Perpignan's Guilhem Guirado who will be coming off the bench to replace Servat. Luckily, it will be the only injury that French coaches will have to deal with after the final round of Heineken Cup Pool games.

And that's a relief not only for the French coaches, but also for all the French fans. At last, it looks like Les Bleus are ready to build for the short term (this year's tournament) as well as for the mid-term (New Zealand 2011).

Even uncapped prop Luc Ducalcon has already been called into a previous squad. But what will be another reason for a nail-biting season is the fact that there are still no certainties when it comes to all positions from nine to 15. The only player that was really 100% sure to be in the starting lineup was Julien Dupuy, but he is banned for the rest of the season. Morgan Parra (Clermont) and François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier) will be starters, but they really need to stay on the pitch as long as possible to further their claims. Otherwise, the comeback kid from Toulouse, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, will prove that he is still one of the best tacticians in French rugby. If he is given more than 30 minutes, it will be difficult to get him out of the side.

The 19th round of the Top 14, to be played Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th January, could change the whole situation once again. Most of these players will be on the field, four days after the Heineken Cup, in order to give more time to the French squad's preparation. But if some of these players get injured because of the stupid domestic calendar, no doubt they will have plenty of time to think about this ridiculous situation. And French fans will once again have many things to moan about.

Jean Palfrey