This week, the ever-eclectic Vincent Moscato said: “That’s it, Dupont has overtaken Chabal“Rightly so, as the French superstar is on all fronts in the media today, in addition to being the most followed French rugby player on social networks.
However, if Sébastien Chabal remained the most famous rugby player in France for so long, it was obviously because of the media campaign around him on the eve of the 2007 World Cup. With his physique, his look and his style of play that were, to say the least, direct, “Caveman” became, at almost 30 years old, the darling of the (general) public.
RUGBY. Why is Antoine Dupont flying to the USA just before his return to the Top 14?
While some have always criticized him for his lack of individual technique and game intelligence, there is one point on which the bearded man has never disappointed: contact. Very rough on the man, the one who is now a consultant for Canal Plus has often distributed the stamps to make the stands roar with pleasure.
Example in 2008, during this match against the Pacific Islanders where he capsized the Bonal stadium in Montbéliard (yes, the French XV played there!) by turning over the most beautiful baby of the islanders: Sisaro Koyamaibole.
VIDEO. Remember when Chabal and Henry Tuilagi were passing around the pills?
At the time, the Fijian did not display the excess weight that he sometimes carried well at Brive, but wore the Toulon jersey and was around 125kg (for 1m92). A number 8 as we like them, who had made the French defense suffer a lot, until the entry of our national Chabal, so…
On a restart from the back of the field, the Fijian colossus was going to challenge the long-haired Sale head-on with 20 meters of momentum. Result? Very stable on his supports, Chabal turned Koyaimaibole over “as if he were a small 20kg player”, Fabien Galthié delighted on France 2 at the time.
We’ll let you enjoy it, with the always enjoyable comments of the iconic Jean Abeilhou to sprinkle it all over…
