'Unpredictable.' For ages when Anglo-Saxons attempt to define the essence of French rugby, it's the word that comes up most often. 'Unpredictable', as witnessed by some of the most surprising turnarounds in world rugby history, against New Zealand in particular. We think for example of the Blues' astonishing victory on July 14, 1979 at Eden Park, their first success on New Zealand soil, the victory in Nantes in which Franck participated for his first real selection, aligning with an original and unexpected strategy, the World Cup semi-final won against all odds at Twickenham in 1999, the even more unexpected quarter-final in Cardiff in 2007, or 'the try from the end of the world' on the Eden Park pitch in 1994, to this day still the last defeat suffered by the All Blacks on their sacred ground. Franck Mesnel was also part of that squad.

Unpredictable. To which we could add 'impulsive', audacious and 'spontaneous'. In short, the complete opposite of the robotic, highly programmed game that has been excessively practiced in the past by many other nations.

French Flair always leaves room for the unexpected, that essential touch of French inspiration as excessively maintained by the Parisians of Racing Club de France with their highly symbolic pink bow tie.