ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Friday Jul 10, 2020

The day Chabal replaced basic handling skills with MASSIVE hits against the All Blacks

Back in 2007 France played a two-match series against the All Blacks in New Zealand ahead of their home World Cup later that year.

ADVERTISEMENT

The tourists were labelled ‘France C’ by the New Zealand media in the opening match at Eden Park when France fielded 11 uncapped players due to an overlap of fixtures with the Top 14.

The All Blacks smashed them 42-11 but one of the few senior players was number eight Sébastien Chabal, who despite having a torrid time with his handling skills, demonstrated the influence of brut force.

The 29-year-old lost the ball in contact twice early on but responded by smashing his opposite number Chris Masoe and lock Ali Williams.

That same year Les Bleus caused a huge upset at their own World Cup by knocking the All Blacks out of the competition at the quarter-finals before losing to England in the next round.

Chabal, now 42, earned 62 caps for France over an 11 year period and made more that 100 appearances for Sale Sharks.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Montage of HUGE hits and brilliant tries...

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Just Jonny Wilkinson smashing people

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    New Zealand Rugby Brawl



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 0 HOUR AGO

    Watch: Antoine Dupont outrageous no-look pass sets up Toulouse try

  • 1 HOUR AGO

    Toulouse Rugby's version of 'total football' try

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    The latest member of the Tuilagi Rugby dynasty dominates in the Top 14 promotion play-off

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Springbok winger with the most athletic non-try of the season

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Jack Crowley drops the ball on dime for brilliant Munster try in URC Final

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    Marcos Kremer shown red card for reckless shot on Finn Russell

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Heroic tackle from Spanish 7s player goes viral

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    No sanction handed down by SANZAAR for tackle that left Reds player with a fractured neck

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: Cheslin Kolbe Dominates Sebastian Cancelliere with back-to-back big tackles

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Ben Curry's World Cup hopes dashed as he becomes the latest victim of the crocodile roll

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Barbarians Vs World XV highlights

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Silly Skill From Toulouse Fullback Highlights French Confidence

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea Moment Of Magic In Super Rugby Aotearoa

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    'Armchair athletes' berate Arundell's seriously impressive bench press

  • 17 WEEKS AGO

    Worcester Warriors - The End

View All

Funnies

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Watch: Savagely cruel bounce see’s Canada U20 concede brutal try

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    "Hey Manie oh ah I wanna know if I can block that kick" – Munster's hilarious new song

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Munster Rugby loving life in Cape Town Following URC Final Victory

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: La Rochelle Players Gate Crash O’Gara Interview

View All

Amateur

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 22 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Legendary playmaker announces new move

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Horrific footage has emerged of Mohamed Haouas attack on wife

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    French international receives prison sentence for attack on wife

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    John Afoa breaks record on return to Super Rugby

View All