What’s happening here?
It’s October 23, 2011 at Eden Park, Auckland and France have just lost 8-7 to New Zealand in the World Cup final. Skipper Thierry Dusautoir has just received his loser’s medal but steadfastly refuses to look at the World Cup itself. At the end of the tournament function the following night, the flanker duly received the MOM award for his heroics in the final but you suspect that was scant consolation.
What’s the story behind the picture?
Merde! Where do you start? Dusautoir quickly became a totem pole player for France after his debut in 2006, an incredibly physical flanker with a judo background who didn’t even take the game up until the age of 16. With a mother from Cote D’Ivoire he was also a role model for the large French African community.
Dusautoir first made waves with an incredible individual performance in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand in Cardiff in 2007 when he not only scored one of their two tries but logged up an astonishing 37 tackles.
He led the French defiance and unquestionably won his personal duel with New Zealand captain Richie McCaw which is not a claim to fame many can make. Dusautoir always wore the six jersey although he was very much an openside, at least until his latter years.
Denne historien er fra March 21, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra March 21, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.