6N: Bastareaud to lead France against Wales, Guirado injured
Reticent, sensitive, and racked by self-doubt for much of his career, Mathieu Bastareaud would have been many people's last bet to become captain of France's national rugby team.
The possibility might have felt even more improbable just before the start of the Six Nations when he was banned for three weeks for making a homophobic slur at an opponent during a club game in January.
But there Bastareaud will be in Cardiff on Saturday, leading his team out for the first time in its tournament-ending match against Wales that could see France post its highest finish in the Six Nations since 2011.
It points to the increased respect that Bastareaud has within French rugby circles, coupled with a growing maturity, that has allowed one of the most eye-catching figures in the sport to emerge as an unlikely leader for France, even if it is for one game as a fill-in for injured regular skipper Guilhem Guirado.
The hulking, tattoo-laced Bastareaud is a fearsome sight, a one-man wrecking ball of a center who can punch big holes in opposition defenses with his power and strength. Behind all that, though, is a complex individual who has come through some dark times.
After making his international debut in February 2009, ''Basta'' - as he is known - made headlines when he claimed he was attacked by a group of men in Wellington during France's tour of New Zealand the following summer.
He had, in fact, sustained facial injuries by falling into a table in his hotel room because he was drunk. He later wrote in his autobiography that he fell into depression after those events, started to drink heavily, and tried to take his own life by slitting his veins.
Bastareaud, softly spoken and unassuming away from the pitch, didn't play for France from March 2010 to February 2013.
In 2014, after a bad display for Toulon, he described himself as a ''zombie'' and said he had ''come to the end of the road.''
There was another two years out of the France team, from October 2015 to November 2017 when Guy Noves was coach, but Bastareaud was a valued member of a Toulon side that was European champion for three straight years from 2013. So much so that he was unexpectedly handed the club captaincy last summer.
On his return from his recent suspension, the 29-year-old Bastareaud was man of the match as France beat Italy 34-17 to end an eight-test winless run, and his tough tackling and commitment were inspirational toward the end of France's 22-16 win over England last weekend in Paris when the English were camped on the French line.
And when Guirado was ruled out of the Wales game because of a knee injury, Bastareaud - the vice-captain - was given the armband.
''Mathieu has a sort of calmness which has a positive influence on the side,'' France coach Jacques Brunel says. ''He's a quiet force. We know the influence he has on the pitch, with or without the ball.''
The French are after a third straight win that would see them leapfrog the Welsh, and maybe England if it loses to Grand Slam-chasing Ireland, from fourth to second on the final day.
However, France hasn't beaten Wales in Cardiff since 2010.
Guirado was replaced at hooker by Adrien Pelissie among three changes to the side that beat England. Cedate Gomes Sa will start at tighthead prop in place of Rabah Slimani, and Gael Fickou was selected on the right wing in a move that sees Benjamin Fall repositioned at fullback.
Wales, which is in second place, brought back many of the senior players who were rested last weekend for the 38-14 win over Italy, including Alun Wyn Jones - who regains the armband - fullback Leigh Halfpenny, center Scott Williams, and flyhalf Dan Biggar.
There were seven changes in all made by Wales coach Warren Gatland, whose side faces a six-day turnaround.
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Lineups:
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Scott Williams, Hadleigh Parkes, Liam Williams, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Taulupe Faletau, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Alun Wyn Jones (captain), Cory Hill, Tomas Francis, Ken Owens, Rob Evans. Reserves: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Samson Lee, Bradley Davies, Aaron Shingler, Aled Davies, Gareth Anscombe, Steff Evans.
France: Benjamin Fall, Gael Fickou, Mathieu Bastareaud (captain), Geoffrey Doumayrou, Remy Grosso, Francois Trinh-Duc, Maxime Machenaud�; Marco Tauleigne, Yacouba Camara, Wenceslas Lauret, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Paul Gabrillagues, Cedate Gomes Sa, Adrien Pelissie, Jefferson Poirot. Reserves: Camille Chat, Dany Priso, Rabah Slimani, Bernard Le Roux, Mathieu Babillot, Baptiste Couilloud, Lionel Beauxis, Geoffrey Palis.
