Results ‘good for the Six Nations’
“These results are very pleasing for the northern hemisphere,” said Sale Sharks lock Chabal. “It’s good for the Six Nations to have two teams in the semi-finals, especially as we beat such strong sides to get there.
“Before yesterday no-one thought a semi-final between France and England was possible.
“It’s always good to win against the All Blacks but especially in a quarter-final and in Cardiff. It wasn’t an easy game. Now we have to recover and prepare for the match against England.”
Chabal fired the first shots in the phoney war ahead of Saturday’s mouth-watering showdown in Paris by claiming England will be expected to triumph.
“I don’t think we’ll be favourites against England because they beat Australia and they played very well in the process,” he said.
“We always keep our feet on the ground and we will prepare for the next match with our feet on the ground.”
Few will be fooled by Chabal’s eagerness to concede England’s superiority after France produced a stellar display to edge the 1/7 favourites.
France set a belligerent tone for the heroic defensive display to come when they greeted the Haka eyeball-to-eyeball wearing red, white and blue t-shirts.
Captain and Wasps hooker Raphael Ibanez revealed the show of national pride was not intended as a slight to the All Blacks.
“To wear the colours was a decision we took two or three days ago. It was made by all the players,” he said.
“We weren’t trying to indulge in provocation, we have respect for the Haka and New Zealand tradition.”
Stade Francais prop Pieter de Villiers felt New Zealand paid the price for coasting through an easy pool and said the doubt in All Blacks’ eyes spurred his side on.
“The difference between last night and the last seven matches we lost to the All Blacks was they didn’t have very tough group games. We did,” he said.
“After 50 to 60 minutes of the match I saw doubt and then they started making errors. We saw enough space to keep on the pressure and it was a positive thing for us. In the first period of the second half I saw them looking down and they seemed tired. I saw some space for us and that’s what we did – we took it.”
Meanwhile flanker Serge Betsen is likely to be available for Saturday’s World Cup semi-final against England despite being badly concussed in the win over New Zealand.
“Serge has had medical checks and the results are all normal,” said French team doctor Thierry Hermerel. “He is recuperating well. He will take Sunday off and get back to bicycle training on Monday before returning to full training on Wednesday.”
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