Philippe SAINT-ANDRÉ

Biog of Philippe SAINT-ANDRÉ :

"Today, I proved that I’m not a lawnmower,” Philippe Saint-André declared, following his first game as captain of les Bleus in March 1994. He was talking after France’s first victory in Scotland since 1978 in which he scored a solo interception try that saw him run the length of Murrayfield. It is true that he was not renowned for his elegance. With his socks around his ankles, dishevelled shirt and laid-back body language, he struck an untidy figure on the field. But what an effective player! In 69 selections (2 as centre in 1990 and 1 as replacement), Saint-André scored 32 tries making him the second highest French try-scorer in history behind Serge Blanco. Who ever would have guessed that?

In 1991, Saint-André gathered Didier Camberabero’s kick infield and finished off the unforgettable try at Twickenham that was later described by the English as the “try of the century”. The 100-metre move that had started from behind the French posts took a great deal of audacity, a hint of madness and a touch of luck. Saint-André was at the origin of another equally incredible effort that began within his own 22-metre area at Eden Park, Auckland on 3 July 1994: the “try from the ends of the earth”, as it came to be known. As a last throw of the dice, France attacked in the dying seconds of the match, with Jean-Luc Sadourny finishing off the move that clinched victory. “That counter-attack sums up Philippe,” recounts Philippe Sella (111 caps), who was Saint-André’s partner in the blue shirt from 1990 to 1995. “He was an instinctive player, as capable of following a game plan as breaking out of it at any moment; a fighter who could graft as he did that day to get himself out of a tricky situation and rally his team mates”.

France became the first nation to win a test series in New Zealand. This was quite an achievement for the young captain (only twice captain before the two tests) who, according to Sella, “drew people to him and would come up with ideas for the others”. With his last cap, Saint-André equalled the emblematic Jean-Pierre Rives’ captaincy record (34), but another record was also set that day, this time an unhappy one that would render Saint-André’s position untenable. On 22 November 1997 France played their last match at the Parc des Princes losing 10-52 to South Africa, the biggest defeat in their history.

Mirroring the 1994 New Zealand exploit and the massive set back against South Africa, Saint-André’s career was a rollercoaster ride, encompassing numerous events that have gone down in rugby history, some good and some not so good. He was on the victorious tour of South Africa in 1993 (one win, one draw), and played in the infamous 1995 World Cup semi-final defeat against South Africa in torrential rain. He was present for the 1991 World Cup quarter-final defeat against England at the Parc des Princes, and the victory over England for third place in the 1995 World Cup (his first win over the English after six consecutive defeats). He had had enough of hearing Will Carling’s “Thank you, good game” by then! Saint-André would have played in the 1997 Grand Slam campaign if it hadn’t been for injury.

1997 marked a turning point for Saint-André, leaving Clermont-Ferrand and nine seasons of memories (including the 1994 French Championship final) for Gloucester, England. There, Saint-André started out on the road that would lead him to become coach of the “Cherry and Whites” from 1998 onwards (3rd in the Championship in 2000 and 2002, European Cup semi-finalists 2001), and then of Bourgoin (2002-2004). Returning to England with Sale, he achieved his most significant successes to date (European Challenge Cup 2005, English Championship 2006). Since the summer of 2009 Saint-André has been Sporting Director at RC Toulon.