New France coach Marc Lievremont is refusing to rule out a future recall for Sebastien Chabal despite dropping him from his squad.
New coach refuses to rule out future call-up for Sale star
New France coach Marc Lievremont is refusing to rule out a future recall for Sebastien Chabal despite dropping the popular forward from his Six Nations squad.
Lievremont's first squad selection was hailed as "courageous by French Rugby Federation chief Bernard Lapasset - with 19 players who took part the World Cup missing.
Sale ace Chabal was among those who failed to make the cut - but Lievremont, a fearsome backrower in his day, has insisted that he will not discount any player for recalls.
Lievremont said: "There was no pressure in France about the selection.
"When we looked at the players in the number eight position, we felt Elvis Vermeulen is the best player at the moment.
"There was nothing courageous in what I did. Some people have retired, and there are some heavy injuries.
Disappointment
"There is a lot of talk about the 2011 World Cup - and huge disappointment from the 2007 World Cup from France's perspective - but we want to keep an eye on what is happening now.
"Over the past few months we have looked at a lot of players. We have a list of players for the immediate future, but also a list of young players for 2011 who are not there yet, but will be eventually.
"Yes, of course he [Chabal] he has a chance to get back. The door is still open to those players left out."
Lievremont has handed call-ups to props Julien Brugnaut and Lionel Faure, lock Arnaud Mela, scrum-half Morgan Parra, fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc and wing Julien Malzieu.
There are also recalls for the likes of Toulouse hooker William Servat and Montpellier's Fulgence Ouedraogo.
And Lievremont believes the future is bright after the disappointments of their World Cup performances.
He said: "It is a new group of players.
"We have lots of ambitions. We hope to win the first match, and go from there.
"I am convinced about the value of this squad. We need to build and look forward to the future."
