Many players have worn the famous blue shirt of France with distinction over the decades, but perhaps none has enjoyed quite the hero worship accorded to Sebastien Chabal - the rampaging forward who can play in the second row, back row and on the flank.

Chabal is one of the most distinctive figures currently playing international rugby with his shoulder-length hair and shaggy beard; indeed it comes as little surprise that he revels in the nickname of "The Caveman".

He fell out of favour with coach Marc Lievremont, but with the clamour for his reinstatement reaching a crescendo among the outraged Les Bleus faithful, he was back where he belongs for much of the 2009 Six Nations Championship, hair longer and beard shaggier than ever.

The French pack has always had a mean reputation and aside from the imposing figure of Chabal, they have one of the most respected forwards in world rugby in the shape of the outstanding number eight Imanol Harinordoquy, a truly special talent who can always be found in the thick of the action.

They are no slouches when it comes to three-quarter play either, with winger Cedric Heymans a world-class finisher and centre Yannick Jauzion a potent mixture of power allied to a brilliant rugby brain.

But it is at fly-half where France remain vulnerable, their experiment of playing Benoit Baby, normally a centre, at number 10 enjoying only limited success in 2009. Finding an all-conquering stand-off is surely among Lievremont's main priorities.

He has an embarrassment of riches elsewhere among his back division but has been criticised for not getting them to gel as a unit. That makes the need for a French version of Jonnny Wilkinson all the more pressing.