Chabal has the French go wild
Sebastian Chabal
The towering beast that is Sebastian Chabal - whose name is a phonetic blend of Frenchness and caveman virility – has taken the French nation by a storm. He has even become an enigmatic sex symbol.
There is no talk of anyone else within the French rugby team. Even the all time great – and ridiculously coiffed – Frédéric Michelak, has been ushered to the sidelines in the midst of an ever increasing infatuation for his second row team mate. In recent weeks Chabal has replaced Sarkozy as France’s most photographed personality. The front page spreads for many a French daily have favoured an imposing image of the French powerhouse.
Why the fascination? Woman here are apparently shivering with delight and excitement, fantasying over the lusty masculinity of Monsieur Caveman Chabal. Men are using his virile, savage and slightly barbaric image to accentuate the sentiment they attach to their national pride.
Opposite the enormous screen that the mayor of Paris has assembled in front of the Hôtel de Ville, the crowds that gathered to watch the match against Ireland last Friday were relishing the opportunity to release as much testosterone as possible in the name of the mighty Chabal. Bottles were launched into the air; beer cans were drunk like Saharan camels drink from an oasis.
This player – despite his humble personality and undisputed talent on the rugby pitch – is by no means worthy of such uncontested adoration. Yes, Chabal deserves our respect, as he wears his hair and beard without any care for present day fashion trends. His lack of materialism is an admirable facet. However, he should not be used as an excuse to bring about nationalistic sentiments provoking what can only be described as a hostile jamboree of euphoric animals in front of the Hôtel de Ville.
The assembling a large public screen to watch the rugby was used as an excuse to foutre le bordel, or create havoc.
Whatever happened to the Parisian youngster who contented himself with a book alongside the Seine? By all means, watch the rugby. But remember, it is not the entire French nation who scores a try, rather the French rugby team.
I myself love a good rant and rave during a rugby match; using the opportunity to relax and support my dear beloved country. However, behaving in such a way which only too well serves to disgrace modern day public behaviour is another thing all together.
After the match, towering heaps of fast food wrappings and beer cans were littered everywhere highlighting the pitfalls of the consumerist society in which we live.
Chabal is brilliant to watch, but he drives home another stark reality, that the mythical view of the Parisian city-dweller, who is politically engaged and intellectually driven, is not what it used to be.
