Frederic Michalak has been included in the France Rugby World Cup squad, at the expense of Francois Trinh-Duc, while three South African born players made the grade.
Rory Kockott and Scott Spedding are both included in the 31 man squad that face Italy, Ireland, Romania and Canada. Another South African born player, flank Bernard le Roux, also joins the party having already amassed 16 capped for France.
The squad is lead by Thierry Dusautoir, who won Player of the Year leading the French at the 2011 World Cup. The French know their biggest encounter will be against the Irish, a win would set them up to finish first in the pool and have a theoretically easier encounter in the Quarter Finals.
Squad:
Forwards (17)
Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Eddy Ben Arous (Racing Metro), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Rabah Slimani (Stade Francais), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing Metro), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Francais), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (Stade Francais), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Bernard Le Roux (Racing Metro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)
Backs (14)
Rory Kockott (Castres), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Toulon), Frederic Michalak (Toulon), Remi Tales (Racing Metro), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Alexandre Dumoulin (Racing Metro), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Brice Dulin (Racing Metro), Sofiane Guitoune (Bordeaux-Begles), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont), Scott Spedding (Clermont)
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I wonder if South Africa might end up being the most represented country at the world cup in terms of player numbers?
So we have 2/3 Sharks players in the team…. Yet the Sharks management don’t know how to look after their players we we sitting with peanut crumbs at the stadium.
@Seth101 (Comment 1) : I think there is no “might” about it!!
@Seth101 (Comment 1) : @pastorshark (Comment 3) : It will be interesting to make a count on it.
Michalak was damn good vs England on Saturday…when he fires his team seldom loses
@SheldonK (Comment 5) : Yep, he was sublime.
@SheldonK (Comment 5) : This is true…
@Seth101 (Comment 1) : It’s going to be close. There are some Kiwi born players that are likely to play for Scotland, and Japan too. lets see if we can list possible Saffas?
For SA: (France), Kockett, Spedding, le Roux.
(Scotland) WP Nel, Tim Visser, Allan Dell, and Josh Strauss. On a side note I see Andries Strauss and Cornell du Preez played in a warm up match vs Romania? They can’t possibly qualify already? David Denton is a Zimbo, can we count him too 😀
(Ireland) Richardt Strauss
(Italy) Quinton Geldenhuys
The Japs and Scots seem to have the most “imports” The maps have quite a few Kiwi’s and the odd Fijian and Aussie. Scots also have John Hardie in their squad.
@KingCheetah (Comment 8) : Don’t the Namibians also have a handful of SAFFAS? And the US?
@KingCheetah (Comment 8) : @pastorshark (Comment 9) : Dont forget the English team? How many Sa players are in their team currently? I haven’t seen them play so not sure from my side.
@pastorshark (Comment 9) : @KingCheetah (Comment 8) : Another interesting point would be which ex clubs has the most “other” internationals playing, The Sharks must be very near the top of that list.
Great to see Freddie back in the team!!!!
@pastorshark (Comment 9) : Hmmmm good point, will have to check that out.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 10) : Don’t think there are any in the current England squad. Brad Barrit is injured, but he is the only one that comes to mind.
@KingCheetah (Comment 13) : seems as if SA is to world rugby what the Cheetahs are to SA rugby. On that point Sharks maybe struggling as we only have one Grey College player?!?! 😈
@pastorshark (Comment 9) : The Nambia connection is an interesting one. Don’t know how many are Namibian born.
@pastorshark (Comment 7) : @Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 6) : now that is what a proper 10 is all about
@KingCheetah (Comment 16) : Yup…I think them being at the world cup will help us to leave the Kiwis in the dust as far as representation is concerned…
I’m assuming Quintin Geldenhuys, who was just announced in the Italy World Cup squad, is also a South African?
@pastorshark (Comment 19) : Yes, I mentioned him in my list.
@KingCheetah (Comment 8) : the warmup match was Edinburgh, not Scotland.
There’s no way Strauss could ever qualify for Scotland, since he has a test cap for SA
@KingCheetah (Comment 20) : Aha…blame it on my age…
@robdylan (Comment 21) : Ah, ok that makes more sense. Yes the cap story slipped my mind. Happens at my age
@KingCheetah (Comment 23) : Sooo…snap with the age thing…
@pastorshark (Comment 24) : 👿 Great minds and all that jazz.
@pastorshark (Comment 24) : @KingCheetah (Comment 25) : age shame old toppies!!! Can give you lots of crap because next week you would have forgotten.
@KingCheetah (Comment 25) : Although in this case we’re obviously talking about minds that are being attacked mercilessly by age! 🙂
@JD (Comment 26) :
@pastorshark (Comment 28) : don’t worry beer and music will revive a tired mind!!! 😈
@JD (Comment 26) : Lol, it comes and goes, it will come back to me, and then I will have had more time to plan my revenge 👿
@JD (Comment 29) : Copy that, beer is great for preventing many maladies