We attacked from deep something they were not expecting on their own ground

We attacked from deep, something they were not expecting on their own ground.”This year the French are expecting everything Nothing will surprise them. Nothing will be taken for granted, least of all the curse or the Gala man who walked on water.* Glenn Metcalfe’s unscathed representative comeback after breaking his kneecap in October was the best thing to come out of Scotland A’s 15-8 defeat by France A at Blois. Roland Reid scored the only try, but five penalties from Jean Dubois sealed the Scots’ fate.. Xavier Garbajosa is that rarest of rugby beasts – one who actually relishes facing New Zealand. In fact, the French full-back says he would much prefer to be playing the All Blacks rather than Scotland at the Stade de France today.

Xavier Garbajosa is that rarest of rugby beasts – one who actually relishes facing New Zealand. In fact, the French full-back says he would much prefer to be playing the All Blacks rather than Scotland at the Stade de France today.
There is method in the apparent madness. Garbajosa has an impressive record – one defeat and two wins, including the incredible World Cup semi-final victory in 1999 and the equally spectacular success in Marseille last November – against the southern hemisphere heavyweights. “The stats certainly look good,” he said.None of Garbajosa’s figures make for poor reading. Still only 24, he has won the French league and the European Cup with Toulouse, the Grand Slam with France in 1998, as well as competing in a World Cup final. Tall and athletic, he is a far more classical full-back than his predecessor, the mercurial Thomas Castaignÿde.The two have been vying for the No 15 shirt for the last two years.

Garbajosa was first choice during the World Cup, but was then replaced when he picked up a shoulder injury, which kept him out of last year’s Six Nations. This time, it is Castaignÿde who will miss the tournament, because of an achilles injury.Garbajosa does not give France the moments of magic the Saracens player can, but he does provide the team with a much-needed balance. The French manager, Bernard Laporte, believes that Garbajosa is one of the key components of his less colourful Tricolores. “Xavier epitomises what we we are trying to achieve,” Laporte said. “He has the ability to run and play, but he is capable of defending solidly as well.

In the modern game you can’t afford to have one without the other.”In the tradition of most rugby men, Garbajosa refuses to sing his own praises. He does, however, admit that the 42-33 victory over New Zealand in the autumn has given him an added layer of confidence.”There’s nothing like beating the All Blacks to give you a boost,” said the man they call Garba. “If you can compete against them, you know you’re in with a chance in your next match. That’s why we come into this year’s tournament with high hopes.”Garbajosa added: “But that is not to say we think we will steam-roll our way to the title We’re not stupid. England have had excellent results and any of the nations are capable of causing an upset.”One team who France will be anxious not to underestimate are Scotland. After all, they won at the Stade de France two seasons ago and pushed the Tricolores close at Murrayfield last year.