In an interview conducted in Brisbane for the French media after the big win by the Wallabies, French player Mathieu Bastareaud described his frustration at his inability to help his teammates escape their seven-try thrashing.
Bastareaud, probably the heftiest outside centre in world rugby at 120 kilograms (he outweighs Tuilagi by 11 kilos), missed the clash with Australia and would have provided some much needed muscle in the backline.
“I wanted to be out there on the field, but I was in the stands and could do nothing. However, the second Test is a whole new game and it’s up to us to raise our heads and show some pride.”
As for Bastareaud’s task in Melbourne, he knows he’s up against a very good man in Tevita Kuridrani, but Bastareaud is clearly determined to mow down anybody who tries to stop him.
Ewen McKenzie is well aware of the centre’s ability to do damage, and will no doubt set his defensive plans accordingly. The French pundits are predicting that Bastareaud – they call him The Thunder That Rolls – will seek every opportunity to come infield in his team’s go-forward play and charge at the corridor occupied by the defending Bernard Foley and Matt Toomua.
Aussie pundits, on the other hand, say he’s just one man and size isn’t everything. They’re right. But if they’re going to be measuring desire in Melbourne, it sounds like the big guy will get a 10 out of 10.
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