LOCK SEBASTIEN Chabal was left out of France’s 30-man squad named by coach Marc Lievremont yesterday for next month’s Test matches in South Africa and Argentina.
Lievremont called up two newcomers, 21-year-old backrower Wenceslas Lauret, who plays club rugby with Heineken Cup finalists Biarritz, and Perpignan fullback Jerome Porical. The backbone of the squad comes from the team that completed a Six Nations grand slam. Lievremont also handed a new chance to players who missed the European season through injury, like prop Fabien Barcella, lock Romain Millo-Chluski, number eight Louis Picamoles, outhalf David Skrela and centre Maxime Mermoz.
France will face the Springboks on June 12th in Cape Town, a day after the soccer World Cup starts in South Africa. They will then go to Argentina to play a Buenos Aires XV on June 18th in La Plata, and the Pumas on June 26th in Buenos Aires.
FRANCE SQUAD: Forwards: Nicolas Mas, Fabien Barcella, Thomas Domingo Jean-Baptiste Poux, Luc Ducalcon, Dimitri Szarzewski, Guilhem Guirado, Lionel Nallet, Romain Millo-Chluski, Pascal Pape, Julien Pierre, Thierry Dusautoir (cap), Julien Bonnaire, Imanol Harinordoquy, Louis Picamoles, Wenceslas Lauret. Backs: Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili, Francois Trinh-Duc, David Skrela, Yannick Jauzion, Maxime Mermoz, Mathieu Bastareaud, David Marty, Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Julien Malzieu, Marc Andreu, Clement Poitrenaud, Jerome Porical.
SARACENS HAVE continued their counter-attack following a 14-week touchline ban imposed on the club’s South African rugby director Brendan Venter.
Venter will not be allowed to have any contact with his team during the Guinness Premiership final against Leicester at Twickenham on Saturday week.
He has been suspended until August 24th after being found guilty by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel of making provocative or inappropriate gestures towards spectators during Saracens’ Premiership victory over Leicester 11 days ago.
Venter got a 10-week ban, while a suspended four-week sentence imposed earlier this season for a different offence was also activated. Panel chairman Judge Jeff Blackett said: “His behaviour was clearly unacceptable in provoking a reaction from the Leicester supporters which required steward intervention and, even after that intervention, he continued making provocative/inappropriate gestures.”
Saracens, while reaffirming their intention to appeal the verdict and suspension “as soon as possible”, have hit back. “The RFU rightly upholds the core values of the sport, which include respect for the opposition at all times,” said Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths.
“Where was the respect for Brendan? He is given a seat with a restricted view, he stands only so he can see what is happening on the field and he is abused by home supporters. In response, he does not swear at anybody, he does not make an obscene gesture at anybody, he does not lose his temper – and yet is now denied the right to coach his team at the final. We will appeal . . . as soon as possible.”
SOUTH AFRICA will play England in a three-Test series in 2012 when the International Rugby Board’s “old style” of tours begin. The England series will be the first lengthy tour of South Africa by a single nation since a similar three-Test series against New Zealand in 1996.
The Springboks will also host three-Test series in proceeding years. The other three-Test series for the world champions will take place in 2016 against Ireland, and a year later against France. England will then return for another three-Test series in 2018.
In 2013 the Springboks will host Italy, Scotland and another tier-two nation, while 2014 will see Wales visit for a two-Test trip with the Scots coming back for another match.
