Michalak unfazed as Irish plan shutdown

WHEN his coach declares that Frederic Michalak will receive increased protection the longer the week goes on, you have be sure that the French out-half in the World Cup quarter-final at the Telstra Dome on Sunday, is something very special indeed.

Michalak only turned 21 on October 16 last and obviously is very much on the youthful side. Acknowledging this point, French coach Bernard Laporte said in Sydney on Tuesday that Michalak would be shielded from the media this week Munster supporters with half decent memories will have a good idea why!

It was Michalak who turned last May's Heineken European Cup semi-final in Toulouse's favour, when he moved from scrum-half to out-half in the second half and since then he has gone to displace the experienced and formidable Gerard Merceron as his country's top number 10.