News: Triple injury boost for France; Senio
to replace his brother at Clermont Auvergne
02 February 2009
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Welcome boost: France
lock Sebastien Chabal |
France
have been handed a triple boost ahead of their opening RBS
Six Nations match against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
Locks
Sebastien Chabal and Lionel Nallet have both reported fit
for Marc Lièvremont’s team after picking up minor injuries
for their clubs, and so has Toulouse prop Benoit Lecouls.
The good
news obviously buoyed Lièvremont, with the French coach
talking up his team’s chances of winning the championship if
they can overcome Ireland at Croke Park.
“The
team have proved they have the potential to compete with the
best in the world,” he said. “The objective will be to win
to win the first match in Ireland. After that, we can
perhaps think about winning the Six Nations.”
England manager Martin Johnson sprang a surprise by
naming fly-half Danny Cipriani in the Saxons starting XV –
effectively dropping him from the senior playing squad,
although he insisted that the Wasps number 10 was still very
much part of his long-term plans.
Cipriani’s demotion meant Brive’s fly-half Andy Goode has
now been added to England’s Six Nations squad, although Toby
Flood is expected to start in the number 10 shirt against
Italy at the weekend.
Goode
was allowed to be added to Johnson’s squad because French
club teams fall outside the RFU/PRL agreement.
Meanwhile, the transfer market continues to grind into
action in Top 14 as most clubs have started a week-off from
training at the start of their fortnight’s break from league
action.
Clermont’s ongoing recruitment campaign continued with
the signing of their second international scrum-half in two
weeks with confirmation that Kevin Senio will be joining
them next season.
But it
was mixed emotions for the Senio family as Kevin is set to
replace his younger brother John, 28, at the Top 14 club.
The
30-year-old scrum half, who has been capped once by the All
Blacks, follows French number nine Morgan Parra to Les
Jaunards, with current incumbent Pierre Mignoni destined for
his hometown of Toulon in the summer.
Senio,
who currently plays for Castres, has signed a two-year deal
with Clermont.
Elsewhere, Bristol captain Joe El Abd attempted to play down
speculation that he could be set to join Philippe
Saint-Andre’s revolution at Toulon.
El Abd,
who is currently recovering from a torn bicep, told the
English club’s website that he was considering various
offers as his contract expires at the end of the season, but
that one of those options was to remain with Bristol.
“It’s no
secret that I’m out of contract at the end of the season
and, like every other professional rugby player, I’m keen to
sort out my playing future.
“My
agent is currently in talks with a number of parties,
including Bristol Rugby, but nothing has been signed so it
would be inappropriate to comment further,” he said.
“I’ve
been at Bristol since 2003 and have seen both good times and
bad times. We face a challenging few months here at the Mem
and I remain 100% committed to Bristol Rugby and our fight
to retain Guinness Premiership status.”
Former Toulon player Ben Castle, who has left
to join Western Force, reckons his ex-boss Tana Umaga has
what it takes to make his playing comeback at 35.
Umaga
stunned the rugby world last week by saying he was going to
come out of retirement to help Toulon avoid relegation, but
a delay in getting clearance from the New Zealand
authorities meant he had to sit out his side’s impressive
38-22 home win against relegation rivals Mont-de-Marsan on
Saturday.
Castle,
though, believes the former All Black captain still has what
it takes to cut it in Top 14.
“He’ll
probably get bashed around to start with but he’s used to
that,” said Castle. “He’ll go good. He’s still in pretty
good nick, Tana, so I think he’ll go all right.”
And
Castle also revealed that the media scramble at Toulon when
Sonny Bill Williams controversially arrived had been a real
eye opener.
“It was
interesting seeing someone like Sonny there. I don’t think
Toulon had that much media attention until he turned up.
“Running
around the country, hiding from the media… that was pretty
interesting to see how that works. He’s slotted in nicely
and he’s enjoying his time over there, and he’s a pretty
good player,” added Castle.
Top 14
leaders Toulouse have received mixed news regarding
the injury Byron Kelleher sustained during their 17-13
defeat away to Biarritz on Saturday.
An MRI
scan on his injured knee confirmed that Kelleher had not
torn or ruptured his ligaments and that the feisty
scrum-half should make a playing return within six weeks.
That clearly puts his participation in their Heineken Cup
quarter-final in doubt but is at least better than the
six-month lay-off being predicted for his fellow injured
countryman Dan Carter.
The
costly Achilles injury that has now ended Carter’s season
with Perpignan has left the Catalans scrambling around for a
fly-half replacement. Perpignan are currently third
in Top 14, but Carter’s enforced absence is a severe blow to
their ambitions of taking their first French championship in
54 years.
Stade
Francais have re-signed Argentine Agustin Pichot as
emergency cover for the injured Bouhraoua. The 34-year-old
scrum half is currently in the US but should join up with
his new/old team-mates for training on Feb 12.
Down in
Pro D2, but maybe not for much longer, ambitious
leaders Racing Metro are reported to be lining up a
lucrative deal to bring South Africa’s Francois Steyn to
Paris.
Steyn has recently signed
a one-year contract extension with the Springboks but Racing
are said to be prepared to splash the cash to acquire the
versatile South African.
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