Laporte, fresh from leading Les Bleus to the 2004 RBS 6 Nations crown, is in Durban to watch France play in the World U19 Championships and to exchange views and ideas with coaches in the Southern Hemisphere.

Laporte took the opportunity to meet up with Sharks coach Kevin Putt and told The Mercury: You learn all the time. I met with Kevin Putt and we simply spoke rugby for more than an hour.

It was most interesting. I think it is very important for coaches from the two hemispheres to engage in rugby discussion. The game is evolving in the North just as it is changing in the South.

Laporte also believes South Africa, Australia and New Zealand can learn from the way rugby is played in the northern hemisphere, with much more emphasis placed on forward play.

A month ago Eddie Jones (Australia national team coach) said that the forward exchanges in the Super 12 were not of the same intensity as those in the Northern Hemisphere, he added. This goes for rucks, mauls and the set pieces.

In the Super 12 they are over almost before they begin. Is this the correct preparation for international rugby?