Bastareaud: I’m living the dream

MATHIEU BASTAREAUD is determined to repay the faith shown in him by France’s selectors when a whirlwind seven days culminate with him making his international debut tonight.

The 20-year-old Stade Francais centre makes the headlines as much for being the cousin of Arsenal and France footballer William Gallas as he does for his explosive deeds on a rugby pitch.

But he will have the limelight all to himself when he turns out for Les Bleus for the first time against Grand Slam-chasing Wales.

The try Bastareaud scored for Stade against Toulon last week, barging through two tackles as if he was swatting away a couple of flies, was a timely reminder of the damage he could cause against the Welsh.

And it was the start of a rollercoaster of events that led to him being called up by France coach Marc Lievremont on Monday, as a replacement for injured fellow centre Maxime Mermoz, and will end with him taking on the likes of Tom Shanklin and Jamie Roberts after being named yesterday in Les Bleus’ starting XV.

“I have just realised two major dreams,” said Bastareaud, born in Paris but of Guadeloupe origin.

“On Friday, I played against my idol, Tana Umaga. But what is happening now is over and above what I could have hoped for this season. It’s a dream come true.”

Bastareaud, who says he does not expect to last the full match at the Stade de France, is a firm fans’ favourite. His bullocking charges are similar to those made by Sebastien Chabal, another player drafted into France’s team for tonight, and punching holes in opposition midfields is what he is renowned for.

As well as handing a midfield debut to Bastareaud, Lievremont has named centre Benoit Baby at fly-half and a rookie Test match goalkicker in 20-year-old Morgan Parra.

Wales, conceivably, might never have a better chance of turning out the lights on France in the Six Nations’ first Friday night fixture.

But not even Wales fly-half Stephen Jones, who spent two seasons in the French domestic game with Clermont Auvergne, knows what to expect. Jones said: “I said to our team analyst the other day that if we were playing against France every week, he would be out of a job because what’s the point of analysing the French?

“They’ve got a massive pool of quality players to begin with, so you never know which way selection is going to go. As for their style of play, who knows?

“Everyone talks about French flair, and there is no doubt when they get going they are hard work to stop.

“Sometimes, defensively you are chasing shadows because they are so efficient in the way they move the ball.

“We would be easier to analyse than the French. Maybe you can analyse us, but trying to nullify our game is a different thing.”

Recent history suggests Wales find themselves in good shape to claim another notable Six Nations scalp.

They have beaten France three times in five previous visits to Stade de France, the last four years ago helping them land a first Grand Slam since 1978.

Looking to tonight’s game, Jones said: “We need to stop France from off-loading in the tackle. They are also a bit different defensively to what we have come up against this year.

“They don’t fight the contact area so much. They tend to stay on their feet, flood the line and wait for the opposition to send someone through.

“It is about us being smart when we’ve got the ball.”

Perhaps the major factor in Wales’ favour though, will prove the lack of quality preparation time Lievremont has had this week.

While Jones and company enjoyed a weekend off, several of Lievremont’s squad went hammer and tongs in a full French domestic programme, highlighted by Clermont meeting Toulouse just four days ago.

“Toulouse versus Clermont would have been full on,” said Jones. “It will have been a big challenge for their coach, I think, as to how he used his time this week.

“He has had a limited amount of time and he will have wanted to put as much organisational work into them as he possibly can.”