Sport | French prop Baille primed for Springboks: ‘Big players turn up in big moments’

France prop Cyril Baille on the charge. (Photo by Christian Liewig – Corbis/Getty Images)

• France prop Cyril Baille is relishing the prospect of facing a physical Springbok team in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
• Baille has recovered remarkably since picking up a calf injury two months ago.
• The French hard man grew up in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains, like team-mates including captain Antoine Dupont and loose forward Anthony Jelonch.
• For more sports news, go to the News24 Sport front page.

Over the years France have produced a host of battle-hardened props who have been able to put their hand up to be the best in world rugby.

Current loosehead Cyril Baille is among them alongside the likes of Christian Califano, Nicolas Mas or Pascal Ondarts and on Sunday the 30-year-old will face one of the biggest challenges of his career.

At the Stade de France, the front-rower is set to play a big part for the hosts in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final with South Africa but it all seemed very unlikely two months ago.

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