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    Exclusive:  Interview with International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset

    by Colin Spiro 19 November 2008

    Bernard Lapasset
    Lapasset: "I am a rugby
     man first"

    Part III: More than just a game

    “In the finals of the last two world cups in 2003 and 2007 there has been just one try and people have played for just not losing the game; we don’t play to win the game with motion and creativity. We need that.”

    In the third and concluding part of our exclusive interview with Bernard Lapasset we found out what makes the IRB chairman tick, how best to integrate Argentina, why the ELVs are proving so contentious and where he sees the future of his beloved game going.

    Being chairman of an international sporting body is an onerous task, especially in terms of the amount of time spent travelling, meeting and greeting. There are endless functions to attend, dignitaries to speak to and issues to address, especially when trying to drive an expansionist vision through what some perceive as an archaic organisation.

    The onset of open professionalism, the growth in popularity of the Rugby World Cup and the push for Olympic inclusion all mean that Lapasset has a full and diverse diary which takes him constantly around the globe.

    “I have no more house, no more family, no more team, no more language. My language is different now, it’s totally changed,” he laments jokingly when reflecting on his hectic schedule.

    “But I am a rugby man first. I like rugby. I like the atmosphere of rugby and I am sure that rugby is a good game for the future. I am sure of that,” he adds with conviction.

    Lapasset was once quoted as saying, “We have the capacity to exist in the world through rugby”, and I asked him if he still thought this held true.

    “Yes, that’s correct. I definitely think that. Look at my diary…Acapulco, Rome, Russia, Dhaka… every week I am travelling around the world, but we need that.

    “I remember when I started discussions with the IOC about rugby and they said rugby was just for English guys. But no more. Rugby is different. It is no more like that. Rugby is open to a lot of new countries in the world, speaking English, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Chinese.

    “Kazakhstan is a strong Union in rugby and the Brazilian women won the qualification in Dubai, beating Argentina in the final. So, for the first time, the Brazilian women could be in Dubai to play rugby sevens in the World Cup. That’s terrific news and I need to speak about that.

    “Unfortunately I don’t speak very well in English but I speak good Spanish - my second language is Spanish because we are very near Spain and in this area [the Haute Pyrenees] we speak a special language, a Patois called Occitan which is very close to Spanish – and when I speak with the Olympic movement I speak Spanish.

    “A lot of time I speak Spanish and it is important to promote this image. My job is not to work in Dublin – we have a lot of people to do that – my job is to promote rugby with the vision we have in other parts of the world. To show that rugby is no longer any more just for the gentlemen with a cup of tea. That’s the image that we had before and we need to change that and to promote rugby throughout the world.”

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    Chabal and Tillous-Borde in France’s starting XV against Australia

    19 November 2008

    International: France call up Tomas for injured scrum-half Elissalde

    18 November 2008

     

    France Rugby Logo

    France have recalled Sebastien Chabal for Saturday’s evening clash with Australia in Paris.

    The Sale number eight comes in at lock for Romain Millo-Chluski in a side that shows just two changes to that which beat the Pacific Islanders 42-17. Sebastien Tillous-Borde is the other new face, starting at scrum-half in place of the injured Jean-Baptiste Elissalde.

    That means Fulgence Ouedraogo retains his spot in the back row at the expense of Louis Picamoles, while Chabal’s club colleague Lionel Faure starts again in the front row.

    Fly-half David Skrela makes his third consecutive start after shrugging off a minor knock.

    “These are not easy choices, given that the 23-man squad has given us a lot of satisfaction. We have gone for experience,” said head coach Marc Lièvremont.

    “Romain Millo-Chluski has played two sets of 80 minutes, with two good displays. That said, Seb [Chabal] had played excellently when he has come on and we have more cohesion with two weeks of work. Sebastien has qualities in the scrum that you can’t ignore, and he also perhaps has more freshness in his legs,” said Lièvremont.

    The former Dax man is expecting a tough encounter at the weekend but saw enough in the Wallabies’ victory over England to give him hope.

    “In the first half against England they buckled without really caving in. They suffered a lot in the first half, but showed how clever they are. They let England wear themselves out,” he observed.

    Australia have also made changes with three new faces in their pack: Prop Ben Alexander comes in for Benn Robinson; Dean Mumm replaces Mark Chisholm (with Hugh McMeniman moving to the back row) and Wycliff Palu is recalled at number eight instead of Richard Brown.

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    France Rugby Logo

    France head coach Marc Lièvremont has called up Montpellier scrum-half Julien Tomas for Saturday’s eagerly anticipated clash with Australia in Paris.

    The 23-year-old comes in for Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, who was stretchered off unconscious during Les Bleus’ 42-17 weekend win against the Pacific Islands.

    Elissalde has been ruled out for 21 days because the horrific late tackle left him unconscious, paving the way for Tomas’ call up.

    The Montpellier number nine has only cap to his name – as a replacement against Italy in March – but gets his chance following the injuries to Morgan Parra and now Elissalde.

    Parra was the original choice but injured his hand in the 12-6 win against Argentina 10 days ago.

    Elissalde’s injury was sustained when Fijian Napoleoni Nalaga hit him with a shocking late tackle on Saturday.

    The French-based Nalaga, who plays his club rugby for Clermont, was immediately red carded for the incident, leaving Elissalde to reflect later: “It came out of the blue and I don’t really remember what happened, only that it ended up with me being carried off.”

    Nalaga faces a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday to find out his punishment – possibly a three-match ban.

    Nalaga’s dismissal ended the match as a contest and France were able to run in five tries as they took full advantage of their numerical advantage.

    Dimitri Szarzewski opened the try-scoring in Sochaux, with Elissalde’s replacement Sebastien Tillous-Bordes grabbing the second after an excellent loop and switch.

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