Parra looks to the future after disappointing World Cup

Morgan Parra acknowledges France must change their approach if they are to challenge the top nations in world rugby.

Scrum-half Parra played for his country in the humiliating 62-13 quarter-final defeat against eventual winners New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup.

New coach Guy Noves has taken charge with the aim of making France - who last won the Six Nations in 2010 - competitive again at the very highest level.

"We weren't good enough [at the World Cup], that's it," Parra told L'Equipe.

"It was already the case before 2011 and it's only been accentuated since with the other top teams.

"Now to compete at the highest level, you have to play to force the opposition into a mistake. We were happy to focus on the set-piece, territory and goal-kicking.

"We've often won thanks to that, but it's not enough anymore."

Parra admits France were "outplayed everywhere" by a ruthless New Zealand team at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The All Blacks ran in nine tries in the rout, with winger Julian Savea crossing for a hat-trick.

"It was hard. I wasn't expecting that. I knew the quarter-final would be difficult because we'd been struggling for a few matches, but I didn't think we'd be beaten so heavily," Parra added.

"We've always managed to compete in an individual match. But not this time. We were outplayed everywhere.

"It felt like we could go through the phases without ever forcing them into a mistake. On the other hand, with the slightest little thing they could destabilise us. The final score was very tough for a quarter-final."