French rugby star Bastareaud fears dinosaur-style disappearance

Mathieu Bastareaud admitted he fears for his France future ahead of the World Cup, which begins in England next month.

The 26-year-old centre is mostly used as a battering ram in the midfield, making him unique among France's five-eighths options.

But the cousin of former France international footballer William Gallas says that every species eventually becomes extinct.

"It's like the dinosaurs: they were there and then suddenly, they disappeared," he said, laughing, at Wednesday's press conference at France's Marcoussis training base.

"They also had a unique profile and yet you don't see them any more! It's true I have an unusual profile but (the coaches) could very easily decide to proceed without me.

"I work hard, I'm trying to give my all every time, to improve and then they'll make a decision and we'll see."

Bastareaud is up against Wesley Fofana, Gael Fickou, Remi Lamerat and Alexandre Dumoulin for the three or four midfield places in coach Pierre Saint-Andre's final World Cup squad.

And after helping club side Toulon to a third straight European Cup triumph last season, Bastareaud's confidence should be high.

Yet he isn't getting carried away.

"The way I work is to tell myself that everything you've done is in the past.

"One season you can be at the top and the next, someone's overtaken you.

"Perhaps in the moment I took confidence. You feel proud to have won all those trophies, but I believe what the old guard has taught me: that there's always someone to come along and challenge you, so you must always be on your guard."
Source: AFP