Caveman on Tahs' shopping list
Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:43
French cult hero Sebastien Chabal has moved to the top of the Waratahs' shopping list since the decision of the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) to allow their franchise to recruit abroad for next year's Super 14.
According to a report in The Daily Telegraph ARU high-performance boss Pat Howard, a former Leicester Tigers coach, has suggested that the 'Tahs bring Chabal to Australia - because of his on-field and -ff-field value.
The Waratahs have confirmed they will widen their search offshore to replace Australia lock Dan Vickerman and flank Rocky Elsom.
Howard, regarded as a good judge of British and French talent, believes many players would love a chance to play in the Super 14.
"There is genuine interest, there is a little bit of mystique about the Super 14 for a lot of players," Howard told the Telegraph.
"I am absolutely sure there will be players jumping at the opportunity to give it a go."
Vickerman is leaving to study at Cambridge next year and Elsom has signed a one-year deal with Irish province Leinster, whom he'll join in September.
Howard said pursuing the Caveman could be a huge success.
"If you throw a carrot in front of someone like Chabal ... he could turn up and do something amazing. People would flock to see him play because you don't know what will come of it," he said.
"The French have some really athletic second-rowers. Or you look at someone like Paul O'Connell, the hard, physical Irish second-rower. If you're losing Dan Vickerman you chase someone like him.
"In the sixes, there are some very athletic, aggressive guys running around over there. You look at guys like the England flanks Joe Worsley and Lewis Moody, Ryan Jones out of Wales or even a Serge Betsen. There's no shortage of talent to look at."
