Betsen Proud As French Regain Respect On World Stage

Nearly two months ago, in front of a packed house at Eden Park and with hundreds of millions watching on intently, France won everyone over. Although they didn’t claim the World Cup, a honour bestowed upon an excellent New Zealand side, they regained something nearly as important - respect.

For nearly four weeks there was talk of strife and arguments in an unsettled French camp. Marc Lievremont faced the prospect of a players strike, which not only damaged the reputation of the FFR, but added to the list of incidents threatening the integrity of this World Cup.

However, that October evening in Auckland, all talk of disputes and disparaging remarks dissipated as France came within one point of upsetting the All Black dream.

“I cried after the game. It was so intense, so passionate. It was great to see them play like this. I was proud to be French that day and I really admire what they did in that game.”

These are the words of Serge Betsen, the indomitable former Bleu back row. As a man who won an impressive 63 caps with France, he knows a thing or two about passion.

Now at 37 years old, Betsen is no longer in the French national set up, but he could not conceal his desire to have featured in a tournament that favoured front row players such as Sam Warburton and Betsen’s former teammate Thierry Dusautoir.

“I was pleased to see how these players managed to steal the ball on the break down, how they tackled, whatever the player.

“When you see the back row in the French team with both Thierry [Dusautoir] and [Imanol] Harinordoquy, who I played with at Biarritz, I would have loved to be with them, but instead I was in the stadium cheering them on.”

While the tournament ended on a positive note for Les Bleus, question marks will still hang over the attitudes within the camp and the toothless authority Lievremont appeared to have.

However, as Betsen concedes, World Cups offer a unique atmosphere for players which tests their professionalism on and off the field.

“It's a tough tournament. They were together for four months, and you need to cope with all the characters and attitudes of the players.

“As you saw it wasn't just the French team who had problems, and it's difficult to live together for a long period. At the end of the day it’s not about the players it’s about what you do on the pitch and they were amazing to give such a good performance.”

A great deal of scrutiny was aimed at the off field antics of players during the tournament. From drunken English debauchery to whispers of a French strike the claustrophobia of world rugby’s biggest stage seemed to take its toll. As a veteran of two World Cups, 2003 and 2007 respectively, Betsen candidly recounts his experiences of life in the limelight.

“[The pressure] is immense. As you see you cannot do a bad thing because everyone is looking at you, everyone is there to support their country and you need to behave yourself.

“It’s hard to maintain everything perfectly. It’s maybe the one competition in your life and you need to make sure you prepare and do all the things that make you the best team in the tournament. This is where I think sometimes the problem between the management and the players happen.”

While Betsen’s career as a marauding flanker maybe in the twilight of its years, he still has one more decisive role to play. Featuring in the Help for Heroes fixture at Twickenham, he will face a southern Hemisphere side littered with old rivals.

One in particular is Phil Waugh, the former Australian powerhouse who squared off against Betsen a number of times. It is a clash the ex-Wasp is relishing. Laughing, he says: “Definitely. I played with Phil three years ago at Twickenham with the Barbarians when we beat England.

“We will challenge each other to tackle and try to steal the ball. I have good memories and I think he will be hard to play against. He seems as fit and as quick as he was in the past.”

For Betsen, supporting charities and giving back to the sport is second nature. His various philanthropic works are admirable, but come Saturday he will want to show once again why he was considered the ‘Master of Mayhem’.

Serge Betsen will be playing an all star Northern hemisphere XV in the Heroes Rugby Challenge supported by JP Morgan on Saturday 3 December 2011 at Twickenham Stadium. The match, which kicks off at 1630, aims to raise a substantial sum of money for Help for Heroes. Ticket prices start at £15 for adults, £10 for under 16’s. For more information please visit: www.heroesrugby.org.uk