Marsh still defying the odds
Marsh is powerfully built, a half inch or so short of six feet, quite a few pounds in excess of 14 stone. Although he’s a New Zealander living in France, he has already acquired a few Aussie traits as well and commented “no worries” when I told him I was Irish.
Although his coach Bernard Laporte insists Marsh will be fit for Sunday’s game - “there is inflammation of the ankle but not of the tendon” - the player himself is clearly frustrated by the injury, noting: “I’ve been having trouble with my achilles.
"It’s been blown up now for four weeks. I didn’t train last week and haven’t been able to do much running.” His tone suggests all might not be as well as Laporte is claiming.
For now, though, he is focusing on the Ireland game, insisting that everything in the camp is “very calm.”
Marsh seems to qualify on that count, claiming he only watched the first-half of the Ireland-Australia match. “The Irish were very unlucky to lose. They had their chances and had a couple of things gone the other way, we could have been playing Australia.
"Ireland are a well balanced team. They competed well in the line-outs and stole a lot of Australian ball so I think they’re going to pose the same kind of problems for us. They’re a team who like to use the ball and attack.
“The midfield scene will be interesting. Maggsy (Kevin Maggs) is a big guy, he likes to take the ball forward and always gets over the advantage line so it’s important for us to get up and knock him down before he gets really going.
“Myself and the team have got a lot of respect for Brian O’Driscoll but we won’t be focusing on him when there are so many other players to watch. I don’t think it will change the way we play.”
Marsh’s background is reasonably well-known but it bears repeating in his own words.
“At the start of 1998, I wasn’t selected for my Super Twelve team, Canterbury Crusaders, and I wasn’t happy with the way things were going even though I made New Zealand A and New Zealand Maoris,” he related.
“I had always wanted to play overseas. It wasn’t just the rugby in France that attracted me but the lifestyle as well, the culture, learning another language. Things have changed now, but there wasn’t a lot of security for players then and that was another reason I went.
“I went by myself and it was hard, that first year in France as I didn’t speak the language. There was just me and one other foreigner in the team and I did struggle. But I think I have adapted well. I can speak French pretty well now.
“My first selection for France was a surprise. It was coming up to my three year residency, but leading up to my first cap, I hadn’t been involved in any of the training camps and then on the Tuesday of the game against South Africa, Xavier Garbajosa was injured and I was called up.
"So it happened pretty quickly and that was probably the best way because I didn’t have much time to think about it.”
Born and bred nationals may have had reservations about a New Zealander playing for their country but some also gave him the thumbs up and nobody more than Pierre Salviac, the voice of French rugby on television.
“We have a lot of Kiwis in French rugby, some of them don’t speak French at all, but Tony speaks French better than I do”, said Salviac admiringly.
“That means he adopted France and France adopted him. Because he has the same story as the famous cyclist Lance Armstrong with his cancer, his popularity is very high because he is used as an example to everybody.
“The funny thing is that Montferrand wanted another player from Canterbury but he went to Brive instead because they were European champions. That’s why Tony went to Montferrand and from there to France. He is a key man.
"An interesting fellow ... his sister lives in Australia, his brother lives in Japan, he lives in France, his parents in New Zealand. He’s very kind to everybody. He socialises with everybody. Mentally, I think he’s French, not a foreigner with a French jersey. He’s a good guy.”
Marsh didn’t establish himself in the French side until 2002 when he was a member of the Grand Slam winning side and brought his tally of caps to 11. It was then that testicular cancer took hold. Suddenly, a different side of life emerged as he underwent chemotherapy.
The last thing on his mind was rugby. But the battling spirit that has always marked his career in the game came to his aid once again and he fought off the disease in typical fashion.
“At the end of the day, I’m just lucky to be here,” he accepted. “Because of my cancer and other injuries, I didn’t play very much last year.
"I’ve been shown a lot of faith and confidence by those who selected me. I guess over that time there were doubts about death but playing in the World Cup was a big driving force and motivation for me to get up again.
“I’m still a Kiwi, I guess, and I’m proud of that, but now I’m playing in France. I’ve chosen France as my home and team and I wouldn’t change anything.
"In some ways, I probably value representing France more than New Zealand. They have accepted me in a foreign country and one renowned for its centres so I see it as a compliment.
“I suppose I’ve had to change my game a little. Five years ago, rugby play in New Zealand was a lot more structured whereas in France, it was more off the cuff. You tried to score tries straight away.
“In France, we are free to express ourselves, to go out there and play. Things have changed, especially with Bernard Laporte as coach. He has brought a lot more structure to the team and obviously a lot more discipline as well, which I think is a good thing. There’s the right mix there now.”
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