Baron's charm offensive to the French

World Cup: As England take their 2007 vision around the globe, the rival bidders accuse Twickenham of elitism

The lines for a fresh five-year campaign between England and France were drawn last week when the former's plan to host the 2007 World Cup was described by the latter as "demagogy''. Thus Francis Baron, chief executive of the Rugby Football Union, is, in the opinion of Bernard Lapasset, president of the French Federation, unprincipled, corrupt and one who grasps power by playing on the prejudices and ignorance of the masses.

Clearly, England's bid has got the French rattled. The Baron blueprint is revolutionary in its concept of liberty, fraternity and equality: a two-tier World Cup incorporating a 16-team élite tournament plus a 32-team Rugby World Nations Cup for the petit countries.

''It looks attractive but it's pure demagogy,'' was Lapasset's reaction. "It is a grave violation of the International Board's policy of openness and development. For two weeks the lesser rugby nations will be under the illusion that they exist, but what will happen to them after that? I am not surprised at the attitude of the English. They have always harboured this élitist ideal. They have always attempted to modify competitions to suit their own interests.''

Lapasset, who announces details of the French bid on Wednesday, said a 48-team tournament of 100 matches at 70 venues over 45 days is something few countries would be able to stage. Indeed, he could think of only two – England and France.

''I am surprised at that,'' Baron said. "Any of the major countries could do it. We've just been talking to the Argentines and they would love to stage the World Cup. It wasn't so long ago they hosted the football World Cup.''

No sooner had Baron and his team unveiled their bid at Twickenham than they were on a whistlestop world tour, giving the hard sell in Argentina, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan. They return on 4 November, just in time for the announcement of the England team to play New Zealand, before canvassing Wales, Scotland and Ireland on 6, 7 and 8 November. "It's going pretty well,'' Baron said from Buenos Aires. "I think the reception to our plan around the world has generally been favourable, and apart from one or two snide comments in the Australian press we've had a fair hearing. We haven't suddenly sprung this on people. We've been working on it for over a year.''

At an International Board conference in Versailles last October England delivered a paper which was designed to improve the chronic finances of the developing nations. "Not a lot has happened since,'' Baron said. "But it influenced our thinking into producing a positive statement through the World Cup. By enlarging the event we will help and encourage the smaller countries, and at zero cost to themselves.''

One RFU executive not jetting around the globe is the finance director. It is said that England's proposal would generate a profit of £175m but it has not been said, at least not officially, by England. "The IB decided that certain information should be confidential and the result is that we are not allowed to comment on the finances,'' Baron said. "I don't understand it and I'm hoping they will change their minds. We've recommended to the Board that there should be an open process and that all the information should be made available to the public.''

One estimate is that the 2007 World Cup will make three times as much money for the host union as the 1999 version, but three years ago five countries staged matches. The money from sponsorship went to Rugby World Cup and the gate receipts were divided between England, France, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Whether France or England host it in five years' time, Wales will receive 20 per cent of the net gate receipts and they will also push for some of the pool matches to be played at the Millennium Stadium. "If you had, say, Wales against Fiji it would make commercial sense to stage it before a full crowd in Cardiff rather than in Manchester or Birmingham,'' said a WRU insider. "We have an agreement with France to play a few matches in Wales and we hope England will do the same.''

In the horse-trading that will take place before the IB announce their decision in April, it could be a bargaining counter. As founder members, the home countries each get two votes on the Board. What has not amused the Celtic nations is the idea of England launching a Tri-Nations tournament with Australia and South Africa on an annual basis at Twickenham. They feel it would seriously undermine the Six Nations' Championship. "That's a storm in a teacup,'' Baron said. "We are looking at returning to traditional tours instead of one-off Tests. The debate will start in earnest early next year.''

Having already declared non to a two-tier World Cup, the French will maintain the status quo: a 20-team tournament with pool and knock-out stages. Where England have been clever is in offering something for everybody. If Plan A is kicked into touch they can still fall back on the traditional format, an alternative which features in their grand bid.

Like England, France will utilise major football stadiums as well as the Stade de France. They believe they already have the votes of Australia. They also claim they have the technology to sidestep the ban on alcohol advertising in France. Although the ban would apply to the stadiums – in France the Heineken Cup is reduced to a capital H – the pictures beamed to the rest of the world would be complete with advertising.

The most obvious drawback to England's ambitions is that the proposed move from autumn to summer would throw a spanner in the big fixtures of the southern hemisphere countries. They would have to reschedule the Tri-Nations and the Super 12. Also, if the World Cup started in June instead of October, it would affect the final of the European Championship. England's Premiership clubs would prefer the autumn.

Under England's preferred option, the 16-team élite competition for the Webb Ellis Trophy would be played at Twickenham and six Premiership football grounds, including Old Trafford. Eight countries would be seeded from next year's World Cup in Australia, the other eight invited on the basis of world rankings. The top two teams from pools one and three would play those from pools two and four, reverting to straight knock-out at the semi-finals. The only problem is that the teams from the "Super Eight'' who did not make the semi-finals would go into the so-called Nations Cup, raising the dreaded spectre of a massacre of the innocents. "The élite tournament would reduce the prospect of mis-matches,'' said Terry Burwell, the RFU's director of operations. "If you look at the format for next year's tournament, the issue has not been addressed.''

Whether the IB will be bold enough to swallow a restructuring of their showpiece remains to be seen, but the idea of a festival of rugby incorporating 32 teams who otherwise would have no part to play, and who would be feted by schools and clubs throughout the country, is inspired.