Graphic: England's road to Paris

In another world on Saturday evening, Phil Vickery and Raphaël Ibañez might be taking home half a dozen rainbow trout after a good day’s fishing. United by shared values, passions and club, divided by nation, the two international captains will instead be facing each other again at the coalface of the scrum, where sparks are set to fly at the Stade de France this weekend.

Their colleagues and coaches at London Wasps speak of two quiet men who have enormous respect for each other — and the respect of everybody else. “If Raphs was to do justice to Vicks and Vicks was to do justice to Raphs, they won’t hold back just because they’re mates, they’ll actually play a little bit harder and that’s the sign of a real rugby player,” Craig Dowd, the Wasps forwards coach and a former prop, said.

After a season working together at Wasps, the France hooker and England tight-head prop, who formed two thirds of Wasps’ victorious front row in the Heineken Cup final last season, will have few surprise weapons in their armoury.

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A socialist would see the common bonds between the two as far stronger than national differences. Both are country lovers from the South West — Vickery of farming stock from Cornwall, Ibañez from Dax. Ibañez has just bought a huge house in Dax for his wife and four children. He mucks in with the academy boys when he returns to the student flat he shares when at Wasps. Vickery spends most of his time away from rugby with his “team” — Kate, his wife, and Megan, their two-year-old daughter.

Both men’s careers appeared to be on a terminal slide when they came to Wasps — Ibañez in 2005 and Vickery in 2006. “Raphs wasn’t playing great when he came,” Dowd said. “We had a few honest sessions and said, ‘Raphs, most players would be dropped by now, but we believe in you,’ and just telling him that was like something suddenly clicked and ‘The Ibañez’ turned up. Vickery had just had three back operations in six years and people patronised him for much of last season.”

The admiration is obvious but nobody gets carried away at the Spartan training ground of Wasps, in Acton, West London. They are used to big names and big games, but the forward battle does get the props going. Tom French, the 23-year-old loose-head prop, rose from obscurity to the Heineken Cup final, largely thanks to Vickery and Ibañez. He knows at first hand how good Ibañez is at analysing opponents.

“Raphs is very good round the field but scrummaging is one of his main weapons and the same with Vicks,” French said. “They’ll each know what works well against each other. He [Ibañez] will point out what they’re going to do, their strengths and weaknesses.”

Lawrence Dallaglio, the Wasps and England No 8, encouraged the club to sign Ibañez. “He has vast experience,” Dallaglio said. “He knows the game. He’s been there and done it in World Cups. He’s had great victories and great disappointments. He’ll be able to put this match into perspective. He captained France in 1999 and he’s still there eight years later; that says it all really.”

As Ibañez and Vickery face up to each other, there are likely to be few words, although Vickery may pass wry comment. “Often in the physio room, they’ll come round and Vicks has these one-liners,” French said. “Vicks likes to put the banter around. Raph is a bit more serious.”

But that does not mean Ibañez does not have a sense of humour. In an age of sportsmen with Mercedes, Ibañez sold his ancient Fiat Cinquecento, painted in Wasps colours, to the club recently. It is now the team pool car. “The lads take it in turns, but I wouldn’t drive it,” an academy player confided. “He drove me in it a couple of times and I don’t trust the handbrake.” No one will have to worry about that in Paris; no handbrake would hold back these two foes.

Ibañez on Vickery
I have one word for Phil – respect. I have total respect for what he brings to the game, for the regard in which he is held by his teammates and the experience he offers the English pack. Because we play alongside each other at Wasps, I feel happy for him that he should lead a team that reaches the semi-final, and I’m sure he feels happy for me, but we each know what the challenge will be on Saturday.

Vickery on Ibañez
Raphaël is such a calming influence, partly because he’s a deep thinker, and not just about rugby. He’ll make sure his team are ready this weekend, in the right way. He leads by example, he rarely has a bad game and he always gives 110 per cent. He’s a clever player, too. He understands the game, not just so far as front-row play is concerned, but in all its aspects.