PARIS, 24 March 2004 — French flanker Serge Betsen says that Saturday’s Six Nations Grand Slam showdown with England here will be his chance to make amends for his sending-off in November’s World Cup semifinal.
The fancied French lost that game 24-7 to eventual World Cup winners England and Betsen’s 10-minute sin-binning for a late tackle on stand-off Jonny Wilkinson was an important factor in their eclipse.
Betsen told L’Equipe he held himself responsible for the French loss that wet and windy evening in Sydney, even though he scored the opening try of the game early on.
“That defeat, as far as I am concerned, was all my fault,” he said.
“I let my teammates down, I made it difficult for France. To play a World Cup semifinal with 14 against 15 for 20 minutes is just not possible. There was no excuse for that. Quite simply I let everyone down.”
Betsen’s World Cup woes were compounded when he was cited for stamping on England scrumhalf Matt Dawson and was given a six week ban from all competition.
That meant he missed the start of the season with Biarritz, but Betsen said the enforced break was just what he needed.
Betsen bounced back as soon as he had served his ban and his form in this year’s Six Nations matches has been superb, notably in a crunching display in France’s 31-0 win over Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
He is now, along with skipper Fabien Pelous, a stalwart of the French pack forming a formidable back-row with Olivier Magne and Imanol Harinordoquy and French Grand Slam hopes will largely depend on how he shackles England’s backs.
Two years ago, the last time the teams met at the Stade de France, Betsen had one of his finest games in a French shirt harrying Wilkinson relentlessly as Bernard Laporte’s side won 20-15 en route for the Grand Slam.
