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PARIS - Frederic Michalak finished the 2003 World Cup as the second-highest points scorer but will be remembered for his four missed penalties that helped England to a semi-final win over the French.
Four years on, the mercurial Michalak is just 24 years old but says he has a more mature approach to his game than in Australia, and is out for some payback for his role in that 24-7 loss to eventual champions England.
"I have been through a lot. I am senior player now," said the Toulouse-born half-back who has taken a pay cut to play with Natal Sharks in South Africa next season.
"I try to be a little more mature in the control of the game, in my kicking and passing game. It comes with time and experience and confidence plays a important role."
There is no doubt that Michalak is a prodigious talent. On his day, he can easily match and even outclass the world's leading game-breakers and playmakers.
On his offdays, however, he incurs the wrath of the scathing French fans and media alike, often to a degree rarely seen with other under-performing players.
His role in the upcoming World Cup, which kicks off on Friday when France host Argentina in the opening game, is open to debate.
France coach Bernard Laporte, who handed Michalak his first full start as a scrum-half in 2001, has had difficulty nailing down a regular No 10 to dictate his side's play.
Michalak has only just made his return to the France side after a string of injuries to his shoulder and knee kept him on the sidelines for 16 months.
In his absence, centre Damien Traille, David Skrela and Lionel Beauxis have all been tried out at fly-half, but neither of the trio has really impressed.
"Whether I am starting or on the bench, that is not a problem," said Michalak, who came off the bench for France's 21-15 win over England in the summer's first warm-up game and started the second, a comprehensive 22-9 victory over the same opposition.
"You have to be fully behind the group, even if you are disappointed by not playing. It would be selfish to only think about yourself. You are a group of thirty, you have to think like that."
Michalak admitted that his kicking nightmare and substitution with 16 minutes of the match remaining in the 2003 semi-final loss to England have spurred him on to thoughts of the upcoming World Cup.
"I have been thinking about that for four years, since when we lost the semi-finals. I have always said I will take my revenge, even if there have been some highs and lows," said Michalak, who sports an ear-ring and achieved even more notoriety after posing in several revealing naked photos for a calendar.
"I have accepted it though, because it was a wonderful moment to live through, but it is still a competition and I always want to win. It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
"I think the team was dominated in all aspects of the game that day. It sounds like an excuse maybe, but in 2003 we were knocked out by the world champions who were very strong that day."
Once thought to be the French Jonny Wilkinson in front of goal, Michalak has failed to impress on such levels, even losing the goalkicking spot at his former club Toulouse.
If he does make the French starting line-up he could be playing alongside Pierre Mignoni and not Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, and would therefore be the goalkicker of the team, an idea Michalak feels comfortable with.
"I am ready, I will continue to train with Jean-Baptiste (Elissalde), David (Skrela) and Lionel (Beauxis), as I did at Toulouse, where there was Jean-Baptiste in the team who is a very good goalkicker. At the same time it's a great opportunity to get some kicking practice in."
- AFP
