McKenzie lavishes praise on Gasnier;
Picamoles out for Australian revenge
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.
The Stade coach admitted he initially
underestimated the 27-year-old’s kicking skills and praised
his willingness to learn, especially in training. That
desire to improve could lead to him having his first game in
the centres when Stade take on Castres this weekend.
Gasnier is already impressing many critics
with his physical strength and handling skills, as typified
by his try against Montpellier last week. McKenzie believes
he has the talent to play internationally, but said his
primary focus at the moment was learning the game at club
level and enjoying his life in France.
Someone who clearly didn’t enjoy his time in
France is former All Blacks hooker Anton Oliver, who
spent last season with Toulon in ProD2.
Oliver was one of several
high profile imports brought in to secure Toulon’s promotion
to Top 14, but he left after just one season to study bio
domestic conservation management at Oxford University.
He revealed in an interview with
International Rugby News that he turned down a €300,000
offer to stay with Toulon for an extra season, following in
the footsteps of Australian international Victor Matfield,
who spurned a reputed €500,000 deal at the end of his
six-month stay last year.
Oliver said he was “desperately unhappy” at
Toulon, and was highly critical of both the club and general
standard of play.
“I hadn’t enjoyed my time at Toulon at all.
In fact, it had been thoroughly unpleasant until I suddenly
got that message from Oxford saying I had been accepted and
then all the clouds went away,” he said.
No such reticence from Toulouse winger
Yves Donguy, however, after confirmation that he has
signed a new contract to keep him at the defending champions
until 2012. The former Brive player arrived at Toulouse in
2006 and has become an integral part of their success.
Meanwhile, the build up to Saturday’s
international clash with Australia continued with Louis
Picamoles telling reporters that revenge was in the air
for Les Bleus following their summer trouncings Down Under.
“Even before we left the Australians said we
were going to the slaughterhouse,” said the French number
eight.
“During and after the tour they complained
that France had sent a B team and that we were not good
players. Now we want to take our revenge. We want to punish
them for what they said.
“When
you done the blue jersey you want to be respected. We are a
France team and we require respect,” he added.
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