FEATURE : Poles hope for boost from French connection

“Our team-mates from France bring a level of play that we haven’t achieved. They help us play better rugby. Their role is really important,” he said.

Putra also feeds young Poles with potential into the French league, hoping to emulate flanker Gregor Kacala of 1997 European Cup winners Brive.

Among them: flanker Mateusz Bartoszek, 19, at Albi, and towering lock Michal Kruzycki, 21, at Pro D2 side Lyon.

“The idea is — as we say round our way — to mix some good mayonnaise with the French and Poles and raise our game,” Krzesinski said.

The mix has worked already: last year, Poland were promoted to Division 2A, the second of seven European tiers, minus the top-drawer Six Nations.