At 24, the versatile third-row of the CO seems to have become again the one that Christophe Urios, the former manager of the club (2015-2019), presented at the time as the “Future n ° 7 of the French team”. Hence this legitimate question: where had this promising player gone during all this time? “Let’s say that with the euphoria and the friends, the summer following the 2018 title was a bit complicated, he confides with a smile. I had gained a little weight. I had climbed to 113 or 114 kg whereas I am at 106 today. “
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Beyond this slight neglect, the Gersois was mainly the victim of successive injuries to both shoulders which considerably slowed down his progress. “I was removed bits of cartilage, he explains. After the necessary two three months of convalescence, I sometimes had to deal with pain, because the area remains sensitive for a long time. However, when you are in the challenge like me, when you like to tackle, it is better not to have sore shoulders. Despite that, I still played about fifteen matches the post-title season (2018-2019) and another twenty last season (2019-2020). I was not at the level to be taken over in the France team, but I made my matches with Castres. “
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“In Castres, I try to train the guys behind me. I want them to feel what I myself feel when Urdapilleta stops a big one by throwing herself in his legs, when Vaipulu makes an opponent whine on a tackle or when Babillot scratches an important ball in defense ”
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Today Jelonch is doing much better. So much so that his last two matches with the Blues, three years after his first two selections against New Zealand (18-38) and South Africa (17-18), in November 2017, wowed until his best mate, Toulouse scrum half Antoine Dupont: “I was surely less surprised than others because I have known him for a long time (they played together in Auch, in youth categories, and in Castres), observes the latter. Stopping competitions because of the Covid-19 allowed him to recover well from his injuries. And today, he has rediscovered the potential that we knew him. We see that when he’s in good shape, it hurts. “
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Jelonch is defined as a “Shadow worker”, like the former South African flanker from Toulon Juan Smith, 70 selections with the Boks, double European champion with the RCT (2014 and 2015), his reference to his position.
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He also sees himself as a balloon carrier: “I like to give before or after contact, but sometimes I know I couldn’t. So I put the ball under my arm and try to gain yards. “ He claims to have made progress in his movements. “I more often manage to make the right choice in an emergency, to chain actions at high intensity. “
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But what he prefers is putting on cartridges, pushing the opponent back on impact. “A clean tackle, where you feel like you’ve got it right, I like it, yeah. It marks the guy in the face. “
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Tried as captain against England
The guy is also asserting himself more and more as a leader by example. His name even circulated, like those of Couilloud (finally chosen) or Dulin, to take the captaincy against the English, two weeks ago. “I’m not a big talker, but I think I inspire confidence in my partners, he explains. When I say something, I feel that everyone is listening to me. In Castres, I try to train the guys behind me. I want them to feel how I feel when Urdapilleta stops a big one by throwing herself in his legs, when Vaipulu makes an opponent whine on a tackle or when Babillot scratches an important ball in defense. Those moments when you say: “Wow, I absolutely have to do the next thing as well as them.” “
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Jelonch is playing his fifth and final season at Castres. A club where he found and loved the same values as those which rocked the rugby of his childhood, in Vic-Fezensac (Gers). “We are called the Top 14 daredevils, he has fun. Frankly, it looks good on us. It is connected with the identity of the club. Here, we do not let go. “
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“I would like to end my CO adventure in the best possible way. And if we have to fight to the end for the maintenance, we will
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That’s good. The CO will play an important part of its future tonight against Brive, in a late match of the 4th day. Twelfth in the standings, with only one point ahead of the barrage position currently occupied by its opponent for the day, the Tarn club will need its third row to move away from the danger zone. “Depending on the result, and that of the match against Bayonne next Sunday, we will know whether to play the top or the bottom of the table this season, blows the player. I would like to end my CO adventure in the best possible way. And if we have to fight to the end for maintenance, we will. Playing matches for life and death should be as addicting as playing matches for qualification in the final phase. “
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Anthony Jelonch against Italy in the Autumn Nations Cup. (A. Mounic // The Team)
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Later, if all goes well, Jelonch will apply for the next Six Nations Tournament in a French team where his profile differs from those of the current starting third row (Cros, Ollivon, Alldritt) and where he enjoys himself. “Compared to my first selections three years ago, I feel that there is something more, he said. Perhaps it comes from the youth of this group, it is easier to develop affinities there. “
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Later still, in the offseason, he will join his new club, certainly Stade Toulousain, even if the transfer has not yet been formalized. There he will find … Antoine Dupont. For a new and exciting challenge. “So far, we’ve both won a title at a different club. Me with Castres (2018), him with Toulouse (2019). It would be amazing to win a set. But hey, I’ll still forever be the first of the two to have it (laughs) ! »
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