France pick Liebenberg

SOUTH AFRICAN-born centre Brian Liebenberg expressed his astonishment last night at being called up to rugby’s French World Cup squad.

The 23-year-old Stade Francais star qualified for French residency in June and was immediately elevated into the national set-up at the expense of Thomas Castaignede.

“It is unbelievable,” Liebenberg told AFP from his holiday home in South Africa. “I feel nothing but happiness, though I am still finding it hard to believe.”

Liebenberg, who joins fellow South African Pieter de Villiers and New Zealand-born Tony Marsh in the 30-man squad, said he was proud to be asked to represent France.

France is almost like my country, it is where I have spent the majority of my professional career,” said Liebenberg, who spent two years at Grenoble before joining Stade Francais last year and played a major part in their capturing the French championship.

Scrum-half Fabien Galthie, 34, will lead France in his fourth World Cup where he will partner 20-year-old Frederic Michalak who has been made France’s first-choice fly-half.

Galthie and Michalak were the ninth halfback pairing coach Bernard Laporte has used in 16 matches when they appeared in last week’s 31-23 defeat to New Zealand in Christchurch.

The French squad assembles at the national rugby centre at Marcoussis, on July 30. They will climb mountains in the Alps before tackling Romania and England, twice, and the French Barbarians in warm-up matches.

“Galthie was born to lead,” said Laporte. “He’s like an army general. He marshals his men in attack and

defence. We always play better with him.”