Rugby: The Bastareaud is back

Never let it be said the French do not know how to forgive.

Six months after his faked attack caused a diplomatic storm, Mathieu Bastareaud will start in the Six Nations.

Marc Lievremont, the France coach, handed the 21-year-old a second chance when naming his XV this week for Les Bleus' opening collision at Murrayfield.

The centre lost his international place last June after making false claims to New Zealand police that he had been the victim of a racist attack from behind by "four or five men" outside his hotel in Wellington.

Bastareaud later admitted he had sustained a broken eye socket and a cut on his cheek which required four stitches from a drunken fall in his room.

He had fabricated the story to escape punishment from team officials.

"We hope that what happened helped him to grow up," said Lievremont.

"We just hope he will confirm his good performances with his club [Stade Francais] on Sunday."

The quick rehabilitation might cause raised eyebrows within New Zealand. Such were the concerns caused by the alleged assault - what with New Zealand hosting the Rugby World Cup next year - that the Prime Minister, John Key, issued a public apology and wrote to Bastareaud to convey his regret.

When the deceit was revealed the French Prime Minster, Francois Fillon, felt obliged to apologise to Key and reminded his counterpart of the strong relations between the countries.

Meanwhile, Bastareaud was given a three-month suspended ban and ordered to do community service with amateur rugby.

- INDEPENDENT