France beat England 19-12 on Saturday to reach its third consecutive semifinal, but has never won the tournament despite making the final in 1987 and ‘99, underlining its reputation as rugby’s maverick team.

Beating England has gone a long way to salvaging France’s pride and reputation after some poor performances in the pool stages reached a head with a humiliating defeat to Tonga.

“In a way they fulfilled a form of moral obligation with regards to the past generations,” by reaching the last four, Lievremont said Sunday. “But they still have to write their own history and they need to have that desire.”

France was widely tipped to be heading out of the tournament after losing to Tonga.

But the French had been written off before, notably prior to the 1999 semifinal and 2007 quarterfinal — but came back from behind both times to beat New Zealand.

In 1987, France also overcame Australia with a late try to reach the final at the inaugural tournament.

“History is repeating itself,” Lievremont added. “History has also shown that, after a tough win where anger and pride were shown, despite the talent of each generation, there was a failure (afterward).”

France was soundly beaten by the All Blacks in the ‘87 final and by Australia in ‘99.

While comebacks out of nowhere are something of a French specialty, following up one inspirational performance with another has always proved elusive.

“We don’t know how to do that yet,” Lievremont said. “I hope we manage to do it this time.”

Lievremont is hoping the players stay grounded and focused after beating England, which may not be easy with the team’s hotel right in Auckland city center.

“The danger is to spend the week satisfying the media, who may behave differently, the agents, who will promise the earth,” said Lievremont, who had previously been critical of players spending too much time with their agents before and after the Tonga match in Wellington.

“The risk is to believe you’ve now become a superb rugby player.” he said, noting that the only difference between the teams which beat England and lost to Tonga was the level of commitment and intensity.

Lievremont has thought of a way to stop complacency setting in. The players will get together this week and go over the video of the England result, a match Lievremont said France “could have lost” given its shaky second-half performance.

“The leaders, a small group of players, will meet to give their impressions, without the staff present,” Lievremont said.

France faces an even tougher challenge against a Wales team brimming with confidence after its victory over Ireland.

Lievremont, who names his team on Tuesday, got a close look at his future opponents when he walked past several Wales players in the hotel lobby on his way to Sunday’s news conference.

“We bumped into the Welsh, it was quite nice. They seemed to be pretty refreshed for a Welsh team the day after a victory,” Lievremont said. “I thought they were in pretty good shape. It’s better to bump into them here than at the airport heading home.”

Wales narrowly lost its opening match to South Africa before beating Samoa, Namibia and Fiji.

“They came out of the hardest pool having lost to South Africa when they deserved to win, I thought to myself they wouldn’t recover from that,” Lievremont said. “They play a great style of rugby, more complete than what England showed in the tournament. The way they controlled Ireland was impressive.

“Fundamentally, I think they are playing the same rugby of three years ago when they won the Grand Slam,” he added. “They have mobile, brave forward. The way they stood up to Ireland was impressive, and there is a great understanding among the backs — a lot speed.”

Wales and France are both capable of playing entertaining rugby, but also of sudden lapses in form.

“Wales has not always been the champions of consistency,” Lievremont said. “Warren Gatland has managed to freshen up his squad with some very talented players.”