French prop Baille primed for ‘big moment’ against Springboks

Over the years France have produced a host of battle-hardened props who have been able to put their hand up to be the best in world rugby.

Current loose-head Cyril Baille is among them alongside the likes of Christian Califano, Nicolas Mas or Pascal Ondarts and on Sunday the 30-year-old will face one of the biggest challenges of his career.

At the Stade de France, the front-rower is set to play a big part for the hosts in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final with South Africa but it all seemed very unlikely two months ago

In August’s warm-up win over Scotland Baille suffered a calf injury putting his tournament in doubt.

Despite the fitness issues he returned in time for France’s two final group games, convincing wins over Namibia and Italy.

“He had a unique injury and he managed to return,” France’s scrum coach William Servat told reporters on Thursday.

“He’s had a few injuries during his career and every time he has managed to return even stronger,” the former hooker added.

Baille, who weighs a hefty 118kg, made his Test debut in 2016 after coming through Toulouse’s academy.

However, he was made to wait until Fabien Galthie took over as head coach four years ago to make the No. 1 shirt his own.

‘Thousand percent’

He grew up in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains, like teammates including captain Antoine Dupont and back-rower Anthony Jelonch.

Despite Baille’s abrasive demeanour on the field and his ability to win penalties against the world’s leading props at scrum-time, his character off the field is very different.

“Sometimes, I experienced it as a player, people can confuse kindness and weakness,” Servat said.

“Cyril he’s an excessively kind and generous person but he’s also someone that, behind his kind side, is filled with conviction,” he added.

Softly-spoken Baille has been one of Galthie’s cornerstones during the former scrum-half’s tenure.

The father of one was a crucial part of the 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam-achieving squad and started the statement-making wins over New Zealand and the Springboks over the past two years.

“I love playing with Cyril,” Jelonch said on Thursday.

“He’s someone that gives everything on the field until the end.

“In the big games he knows how to go above and beyond and I trust him a thousand percent.

“I’m sure he’ll turn up for us,” he added.

Despite claiming the Six Nations, winning major Test matches for his country and lifting the Top 14 and the Champions Cup titles with his club, Sunday’s game will be a step up in Baille’s career.

In open play he will have to carry well against the Boks’ heavier pack, scrum steadily against the 2019-World Cup winning front-five and feature prominently in defence.

“The last games have allowed him to return in a good way, to prepare for this type of event,” Servat said.

“Big players turn up in big moments.

“And Sunday will be a big moment,” he added.