Caveman Chabal ready for friendly fire in semi-finals

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

Rugby News Oct 10

Argentine duo up for World Player tilt

PARIS: Argentines Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi are on the five-man shortlist announced on Monday for the IRB World Player of the Year award.

If either were successful it would be the first time a player from Argentina, who have reached their first ever World Cup semi-final, won the coveted title.

France centre Yannick Jauzion, South Africa wing Bryan Habana and New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, who won the award last year, have also been shortlisted.

It is particularly significant that two Pumas should be shortlisted as Argentina do not take part in an annual international competition.

Fly-half Hernandez, who also helped Stade Francais win the French club championship this year, has been at the helm of Argentina's impressive run to the last four of the World Cup.

Contepomi, a flyhalf for Leinster who has played a key midfield role alongside Hernandez, is the tournament's second highest scorer with 64 points in the Pumas' five victories. – Reuters

SEA Games News Oct 10

Korat 90% ready for the Games

KORAT: With less than two months for the 24th SEA Games here, the Nakhon Ratchasima provincial government said all venues would be ready for the regional biennial games by Oct 31.

The province, located about 260km north-east of Bangkok, is also setting aside political differences and concerns on security to ensure a smooth games when it starts on Dec 6.

Over the weekend, a test-run of facilities and organisational skills were held to show its readiness to play host to over 6,000 athletes and officials, with a countdown event at the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium.

More than 20,000 people, clad in yellow shirts, thronged the stadium, located about 10km from the city centre, to join representatives from Bangkok-based Asean diplomats to witness the glittering countdown, marked by spectacular fireworks.

“We are already 90 per cent ready and I can assure you all the venues will be completed by Oct 31. We are not so concern over traffic congestion as the schools will be closed and we have back-up plans,” Nakhon Ratchasima Governor Suthee Makboon said. – Bernama