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MARCOUSSIS - Thierry Dusautoir should not even be at this rugby World Cup, but the flanker has leapfrogged more established teammates to nail down a starting spot for semifinalists France.
An unfortunate back injury to Clermont loose forward Elvis Vermuelen, just a couple of days after France's 30-man World Cup squad were announced, paved the Toulouse forward's way into World Cup stardom.
Dusautoir played in three of France's four pool games, starting against Namibia and Ireland, after coming on as a replacement against Argentina.
He sat out the Georgia pool game but will again start against England in the semifinal at the Stade de France on Sunday (NZT).
He produced the game of his life in France's shock 20-18 win over New Zealand in the quarterfinals last weekend, making an astonishing 38 tackles in a game where a further 140 were made by his teammates.
"I've got a taste for it," Dusautoir said.
His sterling defensive effort helped nullify the linking play of New Zealand's back row so key to the tournament favourites' success.
"He's a dark destroyer," was France defence coach Dave Ellis' assessment of the 25-year-old Ivory Coast-born flanker, who only started playing rugby as a 16-year-old.
"On the pitch he changes into a monster, and he's always capable of doing that.
"When I was coaching Bordeaux, Dusautoir was in the juniors. We invited him to come and train with the seniors occasionally, and we had a first look then at how hard he can hit.
"He has no respect for reputations because he's out building one for himself."
Dusautoir backed up Ellis' comments, bluntly stating that he admired no one in particular on the field and had had no childhood rugby heroes.
He also admitted that he had been single-minded when he received a call from coach Bernard Laporte while on holiday in Corsica saying he would be needed for France's campaign for World Cup glory.
"I arrived here with one goal, and that was being the first choice in the team," he said.
"I was very disappointed not to have made the initial squad. Over the season's final games, I was really hoping to be there.
"So since the start of training, I arrived with a certain spirit and I really wanted to show my worth.
"The warmup match against England in Marseille (on August 18) was possibly a turning point because in the eyes of everyone it allowed me to be considered as a full international.
"I knew I was capable of playing at this level but I had to prove it. Above all, I am relieved at having been able to express myself 100 per cent up until now."
But Laporte has warned that England, who beat Australia 12-10 in the quarterfinals, while boasting a wily old team with an average age of almost 32, will provide some stern resistance, especially in their gnarled forward pack.
"England went through a tough time with a lot of injuries, but when we see the quality of their players you can say that it's a competitive side," Laporte said.
"They beat us during the Six Nations when everyone said they were finished. They had three teams which dominated the European Cup, so English rugby is rugby of quality."
Laporte also dismissed similarities with the two pre-World Cup warmup games in which France beat England 21-15 and 22-9.
"It's not same England team as in August. Of course, it's largely the same players, but it's not the same context."
Dusautoir added: "England will take a lot of confidence from that Australia game. They showed a lot of courage.
"They came from nowhere and nobody expected them to.
"After our (12-17) defeat to Argentina in the opening game through to the quarterfinal against New Zealand, no one bet on us.
"Our motivation is playing the World Cup semifinal. It was a pleasure to play and beat New Zealand, but we now have another match to prepare for this weekend that will be just as intense."
- AFP
