Four years ago Jean-Marc Doussain was preparing to head off to Italy for the World Rugby U20 Championship as France captain, hoping to build on a second-place finish in the U20 Six Nations.
He led France to a first semi-final appearance and fourth place overall behind New Zealand, England and Australia, further enhancing the growing reputation of the young half-back back home.
Little did he know that four months later he would receive a phone call out of the blue from France manager Jo Maso to explain he needed to get on a plane to New Zealand as quickly as possible to link-up with the senior side at Rugby World Cup 2011.
"Even today I believe that I have not yet realised what happened in 2011."
David Skrela had suffered a tournament-ending shoulder injury against Japan in the pool stages and the call went out for 20-year-old Doussain, a player capable of playing scrum half or fly-half.
“Jo Maso did not have to convince me,” admitted Doussain, smiling at the memory.
“Obviously this was a surprise because I did not expect to be part of the France team this quick. In such a moment, at the beginning, there is a little bit of panic. There were a lot of Toulouse players in the team. I arrived quietly, but with my eyes wide open.”
Living the rugby dream
Then France coach Marc Lièvremont was confident in his young replacement’s abilities, telling a press conference in New Zealand that “all his coaches only have praise for him.
“He is a player full of character and temperament, surprisingly mature for his age. On a field, he has great punch and good skills, I have confidence he is able to play games at a high level.”
So Doussain arrives in New Zealand and is living “a dream”, hardly surprising given by that point he played only four matches for Toulouse, his hometown club who had seen him grow up, develop and gain confidence.
“If you get that luck and opportunity, it’s always a bonus,” explained Doussain, who had also played for France U20s at the 2010 Championship in Argentina. “It is really something to live, to experience fully!
“But even today, I believe that I have not yet realised what happened in 2011.”
Doussain sat on the bench in the semi-final against Wales, unused as Les Bleus scraped through to their third Rugby World Cup final with a 9-8 victory at Eden Park in Auckland.
Seats a rarity
He retained that place on the bench for the final against hosts New Zealand and, with five minutes to go, was handed his debut on the biggest stage of all. The only blip in the story was that France suffered more final heart-break, losing 8-7 to the All Blacks.
The Toulouse half-back has worn the French jersey nine times since the night, the last of them against South Africa in November 2013. He is still only 24 and knows his time may come again, even if that is not at England 2015.
“My goal is, as for all the players in the Top 14, to be back in the France team, even if it’s been a while since I have been called up,” added Doussain.
“We all want to be there but there are a lot of players knocking at the door … seats are rare.”
Only time will tell whether another player will get to experience the rollercoaster ride that Doussain did and go from U20 Championship to a Rugby World Cup in the same year.
