They have averaged 54 points in three impressive wins over Pool B opponents Fiji, Japan and Scotland at Rugby World Cup 2003.
But the bad news for opposition teams as the quarter finals loom is that France are nowhere near their best yet.
At least that is the opinion of their swashbuckling outside centre Tony Marsh.
“I don’t think we are firing. We’re capable of a lot better,” Marsh insisted.
Precautionary measure
When rugbyworldcup.com caught up with him, Marsh was flat out on a physio’s table getting treatment.
Sore Achilles heels have confined the New Zealander to the sidelines for France’s final Pool B outing against the USA Eagles in Wollongong on 31 October.
However it is only a precautionary measure and Marsh will be firing in time for the quarter finals.
He has started in all three of Les Bleus’ opening games and figured prominently in a team that is shaping as the form horses of the Tournament.
But not according to Marsh.
“I don’t think we’ve turned much on at the moment and I’m still not up playing at the top of my level,” insisted Marsh.
Miracle return
The very fact he is at the Rugby World Cup at all is something of a miracle and testament to his resolve and sheer guts.
The 31 year old has been out of rugby for more than a year fighting testicular cancer.
He staved off the illness and returned to the national squad, only to tear a calf muscle at a pre RWC training camp.
“At one point I was thinking about pulling out ... there’s no point going to the World Cup only 50 percent,” he said.
But every effort was made to get Marsh, the player French coach Bernard Laporte regards as a vital cog in his backline attack force, back to full fitness.
Now he stands on the cusp of the business end of rugby’s showpiece.
Come a long way
It all seems a long way from the day five years ago when Marsh packed his bags to take up a contract with French club Montferrand.
Despite having just had a successful season with the Super 12 winning Crusaders and selection for the New Zealand Maori and New Zealand ‘A’, Marsh saw no way for himself to realise his dream of playing for the All Blacks.
Ironically, he thought the move had bolted the door shut on his international rugby aspirations.
“Basically I didn’t see myself making the next step up and the big draw card of going to France was not just playing the rugby but learning another culture, another lifestyle,” Marsh explained.
Culture shock
It took a while for the South Aucklander to adjust to his new environment.
It was a year before he could even begin to converse in French – but any difficulties communicating off the pitch were melted on it by some commanding performances.
Now he has 14 Tests under his belt for France as well as the possibility of playing his former homeland on the biggest rugby stage there is.
“I don’t think you dream those sort of things, playing for France ... I look at it everyday and it’s hard to believe it myself,” he said.
And did he have mixed feelings sitting in France watching Les Bleus knock the All Blacks out in the semi final of 1999 RWC?
“At the time I was supporting the ‘Blacks, but my [club] team mates gave me plenty of stick when we lost.”
There will be no such divided loyalties this time.