FRANCE

Chabal locks in on Wallabies

Wednesday 25th June 2008

Out to impress: Sébastien Chabal

Charismatic French lock Sébastien Chabal has vowed to make a lasting impression against the Wallabies on Saturday when he makes his long-awaited return from the rugby wilderness.

Chabal, who became the face of the 2007 World Cup, has been named at lock for the weekend clash against Australia in Sydney in what will be his first Test appearance under new coach Marc Lièvremont.

Chabal has arrived in Australia vowing to galvanise the new-look French side in the same way he spectacularly united his country during last year's Rugby World Cup.

Just as billboards across the nation adorned images of the inspirational Chabal riding roughshod over his rivals, newspapers all over the world captured his look of anguish when arch-rivals England broke French hearts in the semi-finals.

Throughout the team's World Cup campaign, Chabal - despite playing off the bench - transcended rugby in his homeland, where the sport had only ever really enjoyed public support in its south-west heartland.

"We didn't have an iconic rugby player until Chabal," French media manager Lionel Rossigneux said.

"But during the World Cup everyone knew him. He was on the front page of every newspaper.

"It was good for France to have this player."

Chabal's profile soared to such an extent he is now considered among the top 10 sports personalities in France, where soccer, handball, cycling and tennis have traditionally dominated.

But fame has come at a cost for the intensely-private Chabal, who prefers a relatively anonymous existence living and playing for Sale in the English Premiership.

"If I was playing in France, it would be difficult because my life now in France, everybody knows me," Chabal told AAP.

"But because I'm playing in England, my life is still the same in England. I am quiet and that's what I like.

"I don't want to talk about myself, that's it. I'm here to play rugby. I'm not here to speak about me," he added.

Chabal understands his celebrity status but would rather let his rugby do the talking and promised to do so against Australia on Saturday night when he will be among only three survivors from the World Cup semi-final defeat.

Knowing only one way to play, Chabal planned to lead from the front.

"For me, it's good to carry some ball and, after, the team can follow me," said Chabal.

"My principle quality is to be direct and to be physical ... You can't change that.

"Because I started rugby quite late - 16 or 17 - now with the years I try to open a bit my eyes and to play a different type of rugby.

"But I will keep being direct til the end of my career because that's my game."

Indeed, one of the defining images of the World Cup was of Chabal bumping off All Black after All Black during France's famous quarter-final upset win over New Zealand.

He has been selected in the second row this week but said he still hoped to play his natural game against the Wallabies.

"It is tough to play at lock with the scrum," said Chabal.

"I use quite a lot of energy in the scrum, more than if I am playing number eight, and after I am less fresh and it's a bit more difficult for me to be explosive and to use my quality.

"But during the World Cup, I went quite well in the second row, so that's fine."