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24 November 2008
Former IRB Player of the Year Bryan Habana
has confirmed that he is eyeing a move to France’s Top 14
next season.
The Springbok flyer told the Afrikaans
newspaper Sondag that he expects to be playing club rugby in
Europe next year after his contract runs out with the Bulls,
his current club.
“I can definitely see myself playing in
Europe. For now it’s concentrating on the Springboks and
when the end of my contract comes up I don’t think I’ll see
myself going to England, Scotland or Wales. It’s a little
bit too cold, too wet and too far from South Africa,” he
said.
Habana, who scored a late try in South
Africa’s record 42-6 victory against England at Twickenham
on Saturday, said his future preference would be a spell
with a Top 14 club.
“The South of France is wonderful and being
in France last year it grew in my heart. To experience
something different and set new goals is definitely part of
my future.
“I really can’t see myself in England ‘ I’d
have to really, really get a good offer to go there,” he
added.
But Habana said his focus now was on helping
the Springboks beat the British and Irish Lions this winter.
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24 November 2008
David Skrela has admitted he was “100 per
cent responsible” for France’s 18-13 defeat to Australia
after missing five penalties and a drop-goal in Paris.
The Toulouse fly-half, who was also
yellow-carded late on for a high tackle on Digby Ioane,
endured a torrid evening in the French capital and was
jeered by large sections of the crowd.
“It is one of the worst evenings of my career
in a blue shirt, along with the opening match of the World
Cup last year,” he admitted afterwards.
“A kicker can also win a game for his team
but that wasn’t the case against Australia. These are hard
moments for me. I am frustrated and disappointed for the
team. I am 100 per cent responsible for this defeat,” he
lamented.
“When you are a kicker you have these bad
evenings, but it’s still a hell of a blow to the morale. I
am horrified. I must return to training and I must bounce
back.”
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23 November 2008
David Skrela missed five penalties as France
were beaten 18-13 by Australia at the Stade de France.
The Toulouse fly-half, who has been in superb
form for his club this season, capped a miserable night for
both himself and Les Bleus when he was also yellow carded
for a high tackle late on.
But it was his nightmare kicking show that
proved so costly, with Australia rallying from 13-10 down to
continue their unbeaten passage through Europe.
French coach Marc Lièvremont refused to blame
Skrela’s waywardness for the defeat, but he did admit that
missed chances had proved their undoing.
"Clearly, we put a helping hand around him
[Skrela]," said Lièvremont. " We all know he is usually a
great kicker. The idea is more to comfort him than to blame
him. Sometimes this is what happens in rugby. It is part of
the game but we had the ability to win this match. It hurts
but it's like that."
He added: "We could have taken that match but
we didn't and there is an enormous frustration.
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20 November 2008
Stade Francais coach Ewen McKenzie has again
lavished praise on Australian rugby league convert Marc
Gasnier, claiming his natural talent and determination to
learn set him apart from other players.
Last week the Stade coach caused a stir when
he suggested Gasnier, who has a French fiancée, could opt to
play for the French national team ahead of Australia. Now,
he’s confirmed again that he believes the former St George
Illawarra player has what it takes to play rugby union at
international level, with his best position probably in the
centres rather than on the wing.
“He’s got a great skill set and good
aptitudes. There’s no question, once he’s got 30 games under
his belt, he’ll be a very good package,” said McKenzie.
“He’s our reserve goal kicker at the moment.
He’s doing touch kicks. He’s in the game. You can use him in
the game in many different ways. You can play him in
multiple positions.
“And he can organise people. The problem is
he’s got to develop his French so he can organise, but he’s
getting through that quite comfortably,” added McKenzie.
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by Colin Spiro 19 November 2008
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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.
Read More...
Bernard Lapasset Interview Part I:
My Olympic Dream
Bernard Lapasset Interview
Part 2: My Hopes and Fears For The Game |
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19 November 2008
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.
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18 November 2008
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.
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It wasn’t pretty, but they
did it. France beat Argentina 12-6 in Marseille last night,
recording only their second win in eight against their South
American nemesis.
All of the points came
from the boot – David Skrela and Benoit Baby for France;
Felipe Contepomi for Argentina – but ‘Les Bleus’ won’t give
a stuff about that. This was simply a game they had to win,
no matter how, and they did.
It was a largely staccato
affair in Marseille, with both sides employing the boot more
than the hand as the light drizzle made slick back moves a
gamble with the greasy ball.
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by Michel Dora 07 November 2008
The latest instalment of
the France-Argentina rivalry is coming to the boil nicely
with head coach Marc Lièvremont and Toulouse winger Cedric
Heymans both calling for ‘Les Bleus’ to adopt an aggressive
approach to Saturday’s evening clash in Marseille.
The Pumas have proved
something of a bogey team to France in recent years, winning
six of their last seven encounters, including both in last
year’s World Cup.
An underlying tension has
characterised many of those games and Lièvremont is clearly
preparing his team for another physical match.
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05 November 2008
Toulouse youngster Maxime
Médard will make his international debut for France against
Argentina on Saturday.
The 21-year-old, one of
seven Toulouse players in the starting XV, has been rewarded
for an excellent start to the current campaign and will make
his debut at full-back against the Pumas in Marseille.
Médard was a member of the
France team that won the Under-21 World Cup in 2006, and was
also the leading French try-scorer in last year’s domestic
competition (with 14).
He has been a regular in
the Toulouse team again this season, mostly playing at
full-back but also on the wing now that Clement Poitrenaud
has returned from injury.
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03 November 2008
France have called up
Toulouse fly-half David Skrela for Saturday’s match against
Argentina after Francois Trinh-Duc and Lionel Beauxis were
both ruled out by injury.
Trinh-Duc suffered a
hamstring strain during Montpellier’s 31-26 win at Castres,
while Beauxis injured his groin in Stade Francais’ 22-6
defeat by Clermont.
It is a particular blow
for Beauxis, who has been in excellent form this season,
because he had never played for France under new coach Marc
Lièvremont.
Skrela now gets the chance
to add to his 15 caps, while Lièvremont has also called up
Biarritz star Damien Traille to ensure he has sufficient
cover.
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by Colin Spiro 29 October 2008
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Cash fears: Bernard Lapasset |
Part II: My
hopes and fears for the game
"The selector is the
agent. The agent is monitoring the game in the world and
that is crazy. We need to change that.”
In the second instalment of our exclusive three-part
interview with Bernard Lapasset the IRB chairman talks about
the Rugby World Cup, spreading the game globally and his
concerns about European money unbalancing the sport. (Bernard
Lapasset Interview Part I: My Olympic Dream)
Rugby union’s profile has never been higher. Players’
earning powers are continuing to soar, as is the income from
sponsors and television, but not everything about rugby’s
current status is pleasing the IRB chairman, and he is
particularly concerned about the financial strength of
British and French clubs.
“The problem of money is
difficult because the maximum money is concentrated in
Europe. There are a lot of players coming from the southern
hemisphere – from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand –
and we must be careful because we could destroy the value of
players in Europe.
“A lot of people say ‘Oh,
Bernard, but the money is in the north’, but the money is
not the true value of the game. The value of the game is
having players coming through and to promote good players
into the national side. We have the money but we don’t have
a good system for developing good players in rugby in the
north.”
The emerging north-south
divide is something that concerns Lapasset greatly, and one
he says needs urgent addressing.
“We are not the same
calendar in the north and the south, so we could destroy
totally the competition in the south. We must think all the
time how we are going to promote the game because we are not
the best against the bet at the moment,” he warned.
Read More...
Bernard Lapasset Interview Part I:
My Olympic Dream
Bernard Lapasset Interview Part 3:
More Than Just a Game |
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30 October 2008
Toulouse utility back
Maxime Medard is the only uncapped player in the 23-man
France squad to play Argentina in Marseille on November 8th.
The 21-year-old, one of
seven Toulouse players in the squad, has been in prime form
for the defending champions so far this season, mostly
playing at full-back, and has been drafted in by coach Marc
Lièvremont.
Medard, who sports
throwback sideburns the great JPR Williams would have been
proud of, was also the leading French try scorer (14) in
last year’s Top 14 competition. He was also a key member of
the French side that won the under-21 World Cup in 2006.
“He’s been producing
excellent performances at Stade Toulousain, we know him from
the age-group levels and were always sure that he would
become a top level player. We expect a lot from him,” said
Lièvremont.
His inclusion is reward
for an excellent 18 months, but there was no place in the
squad for his club colleagues David Skrela and Frederic
Michalak, despite the latter’s return from a successful
season in South Africa this week.
Backs coach Emile N’Tamack
said the Michalak was still in their plans but that he would
be allowed time to resettle back into French club rugby
before returning to the international fold.
“We know that we can count on him, we’re going to let him
find his feet again at his club. He’s barely climbed off the
plane,” added N’Tamack.
There was, however, a call
up for Sale’s Sebastien Chabal, one of three English-based
players named in the 23-man squad.
Chabal, who recently
hinted he would return to France at the end of the season,
is joined by club colleague Lionel Faure and Leicester
Tigers hooker Benjamin Kayser.
Forwards coach Didier
Retieres said Chabal’s inclusion was a “logical choice”
following his impressive showing during the summer tour to
Australia.
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by Colin Spiro 21 October 2008
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Holding Court: Bernard Lapasset |
Part I:
My Olympic dream
“I think the Olympics
needs rugby. We have the possibility to extend the value of
the Olympic movement in the world.”
Big crowds, big money, big television audiences and even
bigger television revenues. The world economy may be
experiencing ‘le credit crunch’ but these are boom times for
rugby union as it seeks to establish itself as a truly
global sport.
Rugby has seemingly never
been in ruder health, but for one man that is not enough.
There are a series of vast challenges that lay ahead,
demanding his full-time attention and an almost missionary
zeal as he seeks to spread the good word around the world.
His name is Bernard
Lapasset, the current chairman of the International Rugby
Board – presently in his second three-year term - and the
man widely responsible for ensuring the last Rugby World
Cup, hosted by his native France, was deemed such a success.
Not satisfied with having
already laid a sufficient legacy for most normal men
Lapasset is now steering the IRB through a maze of other
ventures designed to cherish, nurture and develop his
beloved sport – a role that requires him to jet-set around
the world in search of new markets, new methods and new
alliances.
Here, in an exclusive
three-part interview with French Rugby Club, Lapasset talks
about rugby’s continuing push to be included in the Olympic
Games, why Russia and Brazil are getting him excited, the
ongoing confusion over ELVs, the expanding north-south
monetary divide and how the IRB is planning to integrate
Argentina more fully into the top-level of international
rugby. Oh, and why he also had three breakfasts a day when
he was in Beijing recently.
Read More...
Bernard Lapasset Interview
Part 2: My Hopes and Fears For The Game
Bernard Lapasset Interview Part 3:
More Than Just a Game |
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16 October 2008
Sixteen French-based
players have been named in Argentina’s 29-man squad for
their November internationals against France, Italy and
Ireland.
The French contingent
includes Stade Francais’ Juan Martin Hernandez, who missed
their 63-9 mauling by South Africa during the summer due to
injury.
Hernandez had been in
scintillating form this season with unbeaten leaders Stade
Francais, interchanging between full-back and fly-half with
Lionel Beauxis.
Three Top 14 clubs provide
eight members of the squad between them, with Stade
Francais’ Hernandez, Juan Miguel Leguizamon and Rodrigo
Roncero joined by Toulouse’s Patricio Albacete and Alberto
Vernet Basualdo, and Dax’s Lucas Borges, Frederico Martin
Aramburu and Nicolas Vergallo.
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07 October 2008
Italy coach Nick
Mallett has drawn heavily on players based in France and
England for his 30-man Italy squad due to take on
Australia, Argentina and the Pacific Islands in
November’s internationals.
Five of his squad are
Paris based with Sergio Parisse and the Bergamasco
brothers (Mauro and Mirco) drawn from Top 14 leaders
Stade Francais, while Carlo Festuccia and Andrea Lo
Cicero are both currently with Pro D2’s Racing-Metro
’92.
Other players featured
who are currently plying their trade in France include
Santiago Dellape (Toulon), Salvatore Perugini
(Toulouse), Gonzalo Canale (Clermont), Andrea Masi
(Biarritz) and Luciano Orquuera (Brive).
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