21 Oct 2011

France's Quesada calls in old favours at World Cup

6:13 am on 21 October 2011

France's kicking coach Gonzalo Quesada has been in touch with his counterparts in the Argentina set-up ahead of Les Bleus' Rugby World Cup final against the All Blacks on Sunday.

New Zealand are overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy on home soil at Auckland's Eden Park, but Quesada, the former Argentine international, has turned to Argentina for tips, having been impressed by their showing against the All Blacks in their quarter-final defeat.

Quesada was coy about revealing any strategies but told reporters that Argentina were strong on defence and made the All Blacks job difficult.

He says he has spoken to some of the Argentina coaches and there were a lot of things in their performance against the All Blacks that have inspired France.