Why caveman’s the king of cool

YOU were forewarned by Bernard Laporte himself. Last week, quizzed on his selection of Sebastian Chabal at lock, the French coach simply said Chabal could offer his team certain things that Jerome Thion and Fabien Pelous couldn’t. Certainly neither Thion nor Pelous could have scored Chabal’s rampaging second try last Sunday night against Namibia, but then there’s hardly a second-row in the world who could.

When Chabal was substituted shortly afterwards, one reverent French sportswriter said the deafening ovation in Toulouse was reminiscent of those heard for Zinedine Zidane at his peak. That’s one of the more restrained examples of the Chabalmania that’s gripped France since the start of the World Cup.

However he waves a finger on objection: “I am a rugby player and I want people to speak about the team and our performances. That is what is important.

“It (the media attention) is okay as long as we don’t talk about it too much and that it isn’t at the centre of everything. I am the same person today that I was one year, two years or five years ago. I haven’t changed. I continue to say what I think and continue to work hard.”

In the absence of the injured Fabien Pelous (knee), Chabal will join forces with Jerome Thion in the second row for the all-important clash against the Irish.

Originally viewed as an impact player, Chabal has shown he is capable of playing the full 80 minutes, as he did against Namibia last weekend when he scored two tries in a strong all-round display.

“It was only the media who said I was an impact player. I have proved that this isn’t the case,” he added.

“I feel good. No-one believed in me when I was selected in the second row. But I always believed. Since we started preparing for the World Cup, I have fought for the starting spot. This will be the case this weekend and I am happy.

“We have a lot of pressure on us. We have everything to lose but everything to win. Ireland have started their World Cup badly but they are still Ireland.”

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan wasn’t surprised to see Chabal retained at lock for tonight’s game.

“With Pelous being out, that door was open. He (Chabal) had a big impact in the last game and he’s on form. He can play in the second row, it’s not a big stretch for him, it’s not like he’s out of position.

“It gives them extra mobility in the back five having a dual player in the second row. I don’t see it as a weakness, given the form he’s in.”

Chabal was born in Valence, in southern France, and raised in nearby Beauvallon. He didn’t take up rugby until he was 16 and myths swirl around his early rugby career, such as the rumour that he got his first professional contract, with Bourgoin-Jailleu, when the coach saw the size of his hands. Although he won his first cap for France in 2000, he blossomed when he joined English club Sale in 2004, where fellow countryman Philippe Saint-Andre is director of rugby.

“He was one of my first signings, and he soon began to be very charismatic,” says Saint-Andre. “He began to enjoy it and carried the ball more. He started to love it here, and soon became the fellow who the fans loved as well.”

Charismatic is a fair description. Last December Chabal made a brief, non-speaking, personal appearance to publicise a Heineken Cup pool game between Sale and Stade Francais at the Parc des Princes: 6,000 extra tickets were sold that day.

“He brought confidence to our team,” said Saint-Andre. “He is also a good forward, although we need to use him according to his qualities rather than his weaknesses — because, of course, he has weaknesses.

“When you play to his strengths, he will do 20 fantastic things, and when he makes one mistake it is not a problem. He is no good running and tackling the wing. He is about having the ball in his hands and going forward.”

That was plain to see last Sunday, and his international coach was quick to praise him afterwards.

“He was the star, and he deserved it,” said Bernard Laporte after the win over Namibia. “The second try he scored showed he was responding to the crowd. Certain people had doubts about him. We didn’t. He’s in the process of showing he can be a good international-level second row.”

Laporte and Chabal haven’t always had such a cosy relationship. The French coach didn’t make much use of Chabal at the 2003 World Cup, and the player expressed his unhappiness in a newspaper interview headlined: I Need To Speak To The King. Last year Sale coach Kingsley Jones summed up what Chabal brought to the team — and the problem France had using him properly.

“He’ll get the ball, run through six people, then walk for two minutes. We know his weaknesses but we play to his strengths. Others do a lot of work for him but when he goes forward or makes a big tackle he inspires the team.

“It’s no coincidence he plays well for us. We play him at No 8 and allow him a bit of licence to roam around. Sometimes he steps out of the defensive line and I pull my hair out but I’m not going to stop him doing it. It’s part of his make-up. But, if he does it for France and the opposition score, he’s left out again,” said Jones.

That’s all changed now: Chabal was rehabilitated when accepting Laporte’s decision to play him as a second row. At 1.92 m/6ft 3, Chabal is relatively short for a modern international second row, but Laporte is adamant that he sees the Sale man operating there. He’s been rewarded with good performances on the field of play — and Chabal’s support as a squad member off it.

Asked if he’d be disappointed not to start against Ireland, Chabal’s answer was right out of the loyal panellists’ handbook: “That will be up to the coach. Even if I am not on the field I will continue to work.”

When he isn’t on the field the big man drives a red Smart car and enjoys online poker. His English is reasonably good after his years with Sale: after Ireland lost to France in this year’s Six Nations game, Chabal was affable and witty in the bowels of Croke Park, fielding questions in English. Following the defeat to Argentina he was a little less willing to use a foreign language, telling journalists at a press conference: “Now we’re in France we speak French, okay?” before leaving abruptly.

Presumably his conversations with companies offering him endorsements are a little longer. His agent, Karine Rossigneux, said yesterday that the phones hadn’t stopped ringing.

“We’re being courted particularly by manufacturers of products for children, with whom Sebastian is very popular,” said Rossigneux. “He’s the kids’ idol.”

Yesterday Chabal cut short his press engagements, pleading an urgent appointment in Paris. “I’ve got to go to my barber,” said the big man. Asked by reporters if he was serious, his retort was quick.

“You’ll see tomorrow.”

We’ll see a lot more than a new haircut tonight.