Paul Willemse was absent from the World Cup due to injury. The 31-year-old second row received a yellow card then a red in half an hour.
“I'm waiting to be called.” he said in October. Four months after this declaration, this Friday, February 2, he had the opportunity to show that Fabien Galthié was wrong not to call him back. The second row was replaced by Bastien Chalureau in the starting line-up.