French rugby legend Philippe Saint-Andre joined Thursday morning’s OTB AM to preview this weekend’s 4thround of matches in the Six Nations Championship.
The Former France coach also talked about his time in charge of Les Bleus, and the issues he faced dealing with FFR and the Top-14 sides.
Saint-Andre said his time in charge of the side was hindered with politics between the money hungry TV funded Top-14 sides and the French Rugby Federation.
“It was a war between the French Federation and the clubs,’ said Saint-Andre.
The former winger says his management team had access restrictions with players in the build-up and during past Six Nations Championships.
He stated that some player’s played eight full games on the bounce before shirting up for Six Nations action with their country.
“They were arriving before the Six Nations - completely exhausted, and knackered,' expressed the Frenchman.
“In some clubs we didn’t have access to the players before the Six Nations. Our key players were playing eight games in a row - for 80 minutes,' explained the former Toulon player.
Philippe says the player's had no respite during Six Nations rest weeks, leaving them completely exhausted and unable function at a sufficient level against their counterparts.
"Still the players were going back to their club between the Six Nations games. Twice we won the first two games, and the third it was a week off - all my players went back to play for their clubs. It was completely crazy."
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