Players to Watch: France

Maxime Medard:

French rugby at its best oozes flair, and no player in the World Cup squad epitomizes that flair more so than Maxime Medard. Although still only 24, he has already won two Heineken Cups and one Top 14 title with Toulouse, and has proven himself as a French superstar.

With the ability to play at either wing or fullback, he brings a decidedly Southern Hemisphere counter-attacking skill to the French side when playing at 15, and his mazy runs have left defenders in his wake across Europe. Like team-mates Vincent Clerc and Cedric Heymans, he creates space from nothing and can dance past tackles with ease. Certain to move between wing and fullback throughout the tournament, he offers France versatility in their backs and can change a game in an instant.

A close contender is captain Thierry Dusatoir - a wrecking ball of a number 7 who leads from the front and powers the back row along with Imanol Harinordoquy.

Name: Maxime Medard

Age: 24

Position: Fullback/Wing

Teams: Toulouse & France

Test Caps: 16 (38 points)

Height: 1.80m

Weight: 89kg

SA Players Abroad: Daan Human (Toulouse)

Daan Human has been capped 4 times for the Springboks and 26 times for the Stormers. We mostly remember the name but since he left the South African shores after the 2004 SupeRugby season we have only heard bits and bobs about this 6ft 2in prop.
Since 2004 he has been learning a bit of French and teaching a whole lot about scrummaging at Toulouse in the French Top 14 and Heineken Cup. He has been capped 139 times in the Top14 and 41 times in the Heineken Cup. Alongside team mate Shaun Sowerby, Human is making a mark in European Rugby.

Toulouse face Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in Ireland on April 30 2011, as they both fight it out for a place in the Heineken Cup Final.

SA Players Abroad: Joe van Niekerk (Toulon)

52 test Springbok Loose Forward, Joe van Niekerk is well known by South African and international supporters. Little is known on South African shores as to how well he has been doing at French Club Toulon!

Van Niekerk is captaining the club but more importantly,  captaining them in this weekends Heineken Cup Quarter Final against fellow French Top 14 competitors Perpignan. See Fixtures here. He has also led the club to the Semi Final of the Top 14 Championship as well as finalist in the Amlin Challenge, both in the 2009/2010 season
He had a magnificent junior rugby career and captained SA Schools (He was schooled at King Edward VII School.), SA u19 and SA u21. 
Van Niekerk was moved straight into the Springboks squad from the u21's without playing a Currie Cup or SupeRugby game. Joe van Niekerk represented the Lions in Super 12 and the Stormers in Super 14 before attempting a move to Northampton Saints (contract was terminated before arriving at the Club) and finally settling in Toulon.  

SA Players Abroad: Shaun Sowerby (Toulouse)

Shaun Sowerby has been a great loss to South African Rugby. Only capped once for the Springboks against Samoa, Sowerby left the Sharks for a very successful career in France with both Stade Francais (2004-2007) and Toulouse (2007-present).
Richard Shaun Sowerby was born on July 1st 1978. His preferred position is 8th man. He stands at 1.93m tall and weighs 108kg's.
He has been the first choice 8th man for both teams barring injury and has won both the Heineken Cup as well as the French Top 14.