PLAYER PROFILE

BENOIT BABY

1

6 TRIES:

BABY FACTS

Baby will be hungry to put that right, especially in the face of defeat to the side who he felt rejected him.

The Top 14 trophy will not be the only silverware that the flying Frenchman will be desperate to get his hands on this season. His debut in Dublin is thus far the only Six Nations game he has played in, but fitness prevailing he is set to feature heavily this campaign after consolidating his position at inside centre during the Autumn internationals.

“He is a player we have been following for a long time. He fits perfectly with our project thanks to his skills and his ability to make decisions on the pitch,” France coach Lievremont said after handing him his fourth cap in November.

Baby is now ready to leave behind the actions that overshadowed his outstanding debut and show his nation more of the exciting touches witnessed that day. The No. 12 shirt looks like it will be his to step up and claim in the 2009 Six Nations and he could be the spark to light the French three-quarters. n

07 /09 /1983

CLERMONT AUVERNGNE

INTERNATIONAL APPEARANCES:

DATE OF BIRTH:

CLUB:

the jersey once again. After showing further promise during defeats in South Africa and Australia he damaged a cruciate ligament that kept him out for two very barren years.

“I suffered a lot because physically
I struggled to go back to my best. Mentally, it was total gloom. I started to have rows with my wife, to hate my parents. I wanted to quit rugby. I had to do something,” he recalls.

In 2007, Clermont Auvergne signed him and a reinvigorated Baby discovered his form. “I owe a lot to Clermont medical staff because they discovered what was wrong with me. I also owe a lot to coach Vern Cotter because he believed in me,” he says.

“They also helped me to lead a more healthy life. I don’t drink any more and I go to bed at 22.30.”

That season he helped guide Clermont to the Top 14 title despite losing in the final to his previous club Stade Toulousain. It was the second successive season ‘Les Jaunards’ had been the losing side in the final and

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Baby dives over to score a try in his only SIx Nations start to date

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