French Rugby Federation president Pierre Camou told AFP on Wednesday that he never considered sacking France coach Marc Lievremont despite the historic Six Nations defeat by Italy.
Camou, who replaced Bernard Lapasset after the 2007 World Cup, added that even defeat against Wales at the Stade de France on Saturday would not shake his faith in Lievremont.
Both Lievremont and Camou have come under fire this week following the 22-21 loss to Italy at the weekend.
For Lievremont, who last year led France to a first Grand Slam since 2004, the humiliation at Italy's hands followed heavy defeats by Argentina, South Africa and Australia.
Camou, meanwhile, has been pilloried for not replacing Lievremont, who came under fire from journalists and club coaches alike for accusing his players of cowardice and betraying their country in the loss to Italy.
"Never. No, I never even envisaged it," replied Camou when pressed on whether he had thought about firing Lievremont.
"The France team is the shop window of French rugby. There are major questions about French rugby, which are better dealt with when things are calm.
"If the only solution was to change one or two or three players then everybody would know the answer to the question.
"But the questions go deeper than that. What happened (against Italy)? How does one put together again a squad for the short term goal (the World Cup in New Zealand from September 9 to October 23)?
"These are the questions that I am asking myself. And that each one of us, myself primarily, assume their responsibilities."
Camou, who was FFR vice-president under Lapasset and privy to the shock decision to appoint the inexperienced Lievremont to replace Bernard Laporte after the 2007 World Cup, said defeat to Wales would not change his mi
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