PARIS: Sebastien Chabal, the imposing, bearded image of the World Cup, won't allow sentiment to distract him when France clash with England in the World Cup semi-finals on Saturday.
Chabal, one of three French players who ply their club trade in England, is part of the Sale Sharks squad from where the English have drawn Andrew Sheridan and Mark Cueto and where Jason Robinson played last season.
England should not expect any favours from the man called the Caveman when they meet at the Stade de France.
When Chabal came face-to-face with his club-mates in the Six Nations in 2005, he left fly-half Charlie Hodgson in no doubt as to his intentions.
“I left Chabal a message,” said Sale coach Kingsley Jones at the time.
“I said it's great that he and Sebastien Bruno were playing, then I said: 'Please don't run at Charlie too much.' In fact, my actual words were: 'Don't kill him'.”
Niels de Vos, Sale's chief executive, also shuddered at the potential damage.
“When he and Charlie were selected, I overheard him say to Charlie in his broken English: “When we play, I run at you.” And a big grin spread across his face. In France his nickname is 'The Anaesthetist'.”
There will be plenty of interest in Saturday's match at Adams Park in High Wycombe, to the west of London, where European champions Wasps are based.
They can boast six players in the England squad – former international skipper Lawrence Dallaglio, Simon Shaw, Josh Lewsey, Paul Sackey, Joe Worsley and current captain Phil Vickery. – AFP
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