Dusautoir bids to lead France to redemption
Thierry Dusautoir faces his hardest task in more than two years since
he became France captain when he leads his country into a World Cup
final against New Zealand at Eden Park here on Sunday.
Thierry Dusautoir |
Dusautoir has been at the helm during some of French rugby's darkest
recent days, notably a Six Nations defeat by Italy, two heavy losses to
South Africa and Argentina, and then a record 59-16 loss to Australia,
and in this World Cup a shock pool defeat by Tonga.
Amid rumours of internal strife between management and players,
Dusautoir has had to try to ride out public criticism of the players
from coach Marc Lievremont and ridicule from an unforgiving French
press.
Dusautoir sprang to prominence when he produced an astonishing 38
tackles playing as blindside flanker in France's stunning 2007 World Cup
quarter-final victory over New Zealand.
Taciturn, in a style very different from that of loquacious former
captains Fabien Galthie and Raphael Ibanez, Dusautoir said French rugby
chiefs were well aware of his approach before they chose him as skipper.
"I'm maybe not quite as exuberant but I'm someone who analyses things
and says measured things," said the 29-year-old Toulouse back-row
forward.
"It's the way I am, I'm not going to change. They knew that I was
like that when they selected me."
In 2010, Dusautoir, who has won three French titles with Biarritz and
Toulouse and one European Cup with the latter side, captained France to
their first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2004.
Born in the Ivory Coast capital of Abidjan, to an Ivorian mother and
French father, Dusautoir only arrived in France at the age of 10.
France’s team takes part in a training session. AFP |
His main sport as a youngster was judo, before taking up rugby at the
relatively late age of 16.
The way Dusautoir plays certainly mirrors his judo training, the
flanker enjoying great footwork and a composed tackling technique that
shows a complete mastery of how to best distribute and use weight.
"He's a very motivational person," said France fly-half Morgan Parra.
"I think we are all leaders in our own clubs but he reminds us all what
needs to be done at training, outside training.
"He leads by example with his defensive qualities."
Dusautoir said earlier this month that the France team were carrying
baggage from the dip in form that followed the 2010 Grand Slam.
"Our last season wasn't good, unfortunately we're still carrying it
like a burden," he said. "Only big games and big performances will allow
us to forget the bad experiences we had."
After qualifying for the knockout phase here despite losing pool
matches to New Zealand and Tonga, the French displayed their mettle in a
19-12 quarter-final win over England, before staunch defence saw them
home 9-8 against a 14-man Wales.
One more big game, led from the front by the ever-present Dusautoir,
could be enough to seal an improbable turnaround for his France team.
AFP |