World Cup brought best and worst out of Dominici

THE late Christophe Dominici, whose sad passing we mourn this week, was a compelling rugby player to watch, brimful of talent, passion and belief.

He was quintessentially French which only heightened his appeal but, of course, that meant that with the brilliant occasionally came the bad. Very bad.

Take his three World Cups for example. In 1999 it was he who signalled that France were up for it in their semifinal with New Zealand with a mesmerising run which nearly brought him the individual try of the tournament. France quickly recycled and it was Christophe Lamaison who nipped in, but it was Dominici who had sewed a little doubt in Kiwi minds, a doubt which was to flood back later in proceedings.

In the second half with his side trailing came his superb opportunist try that got the France comeback fully under way, chasing Fabián Galthie’s seemingly overcooked kick to nip in between Taine Randell and Jeff Wilson.

Then in 2003 came another semi-final when we saw the worst of Dominici. Facing an inform Jason Robinson – the stuff of nightmares admittedly – he was completely over psyched and his crude “Chopper Harris” style hacking of Robinson was lucky to earn only a yellow card. Not that he could have returned anyway. In making the “tackle” Dominci ruptured knee ligaments and was out for the rest of the season.

Four years later though came arguably Dominici’s most memorable moment when he stared down the giant Ali Williams as the All Blacks overcooked their haka routine before their quarter-final in Cardiff. Dominici had no fear and his look of Napoleonic disdain for their antics is one of rugby’s great images. It certainly set the tone for what followed.