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    International Rugby

     

    Springbok Habana wants to play in Top 14; Williams wins IRB Player of the Year award

    24 November 2008

    IRB Logo

    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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    International: Skrela takes “100 per cent” blame for Aussie defeat

    24 November 2008

    France Rugby Logo

    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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    International: Skrela’s nightmare hands Aussies a narrow Paris win

    23 November 2008

    France Rugby Logo

    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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    McKenzie lavishes praise on Gasnier; Picamoles out for Australian revenge

    20 November 2008

    France Rugby Logo

    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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    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.

    Read More...

    Bernard Lapasset Interview Part I:  My Olympic Dream

    Bernard Lapasset Interview Part 2: My Hopes and Fears For The Game

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

    19 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.

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

    18 November 2008

    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.

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    International: France give Argentina the boot as ‘Les Bleus’ win ugly in Marseille
    09 November 2008

    France Rugby Logo

    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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    International: Lièvremont and Heymans vow to set the record straight against Argentina

    by Michel Dora 07 November 2008

    France Rugby Logo

    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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    International: Médard wins first cap; Lièvremont praises rival Galthie

    05 November 2008

    France Rugby Logo

    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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    International: France add Skrela and Traille; Carter aims for ‘Slam’

    03 November 2008

    France Rugby Logo

    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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    Exclusive:  Interview with International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset

    by Colin Spiro 29 October 2008

    Bernard Lapasset
    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

    International: Toulouse youngster Maxime Medard in France squad

    30 October 2008

    France Rugby Logo

    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.

    Read More...

    Exclusive:  Interview with International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset

    by Colin Spiro 21 October 2008

    Bernard Lapasset
    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

    Argentina name 16 'French' players

    16 October 2008

    Argentina Logo

    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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    Italy name ten French-based players in 30-man squad

    07 October 2008

    Italy RFU Logo

    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).

    Read More...

     

     
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