As Australia and France prepare to meet on Saturday, the match carries particular resonance for those who remember the 1999 Rugby World Cup final, a contest won by Australia and a source of enduring heartbreak for French supporters[[1]]. Both nations are now seeking to regain form ahead of the 2027 World Cup, and for former France captain and coach Marc Lièvremont, the fixture revisits a painful chapter in his career-his final appearance as a player for *Les Bleus*[[3]].This match arrives at a critical juncture for both teams as they attempt to build momentum and rebuild confidence.
Australia’s upcoming match against France on Saturday carries a weight of history for former French coach Marc Lièvremont.
Both France and Australia enter Saturday’s contest facing challenges. France struggled through their autumn tests, suffering a heavy defeat to South Africa and a narrow win over Fiji. Meanwhile, the Wallabies have fared even worse, dropping three consecutive matches against England, Italy, and Ireland. With the Rugby World Cup just two years away, Australia is a shadow of its former self.
Australia has twice lifted the Rugby World Cup trophy, claiming victories in 1991 and 1999. The latter triumph remains a painful memory for French fans. Twelve years after losing a World Cup final to New Zealand, France had another opportunity to claim the title. However, mirroring their 1987 loss to the All Blacks, they were soundly defeated, 35-12.
A week after a stunning upset victory over Jonah Lomu and the New Zealand squad, Pierre Villepreux and Jean-Claude Skrela’s French side held a lead until the 60th minute (18-12) before ultimately faltering in the final quarter. The match left a particularly bitter taste for Marc Lièvremont, who played his final game for France that day.
Marc Lièvremont Reflects on the Past
Lièvremont believes the French team was poorly prepared for the final. He attributes this to the massive celebrations and numerous commitments that followed their incredible semi-final win over New Zealand. “We had been focused on the semi-final for too long and never truly shifted our attention to the final,” the flanker later said.
Lièvremont was also hampered by a groin injury. Despite playing through the pain with an injection, the Stade Français player knew his time with the national team was coming to an end. “I’ve had a fantastic journey, but now it’s time to turn the page. I need to start thinking about my professional future,” he stated after the World Cup.
That professional future would eventually lead him to the coaching role with the French national team, where he experienced another World Cup final defeat in 2011 – this time a narrow 8-7 loss to New Zealand.
