It is with a “Puma” (or a “Jaguar” if you prefer, a reference to the Argentinian Jaguares club where he started rugby) in the engine that the USM is about to challenge AS Béziers-Hérault, this Friday in Sapiac for the 4th day of the Pro D2 championship. Rookie of the offseason, Argentinian rear Segundo Tuculet, 27, set down in Tarn-et-Garonne this summer from Valence-Romans after having already experienced the English championships (in D2 with Ealing Trailfinders) or Italy (with RC I Medicei, the Florence club). Segundo made the effort to respond to the press in French, without losing his smile. Tomorrow evening, even with a group reduced by absences, Segundo is aiming for nothing other than victory.
Segundo, how did this week of training go after this very difficult victory in Narbonne?
Good, really good. To come back to last Friday, it’s a game where we didn’t play well but we took the 4 points, that’s the most important. This victory, we went to seek it. This week, we had very good training sessions, it went a lot better than the week before.
How do you approach the reception of Béziers?
We feel it’s going to be a really tough match. Béziers is a tough team all the time. They lost the last match against Aix (Editor’s note: 25-24) so they will want to come and get the points lost at home. We know the difficulty of the task, but as I tell you, we trained well, again this morning, we had a good speed session. So, we are calm and happy, we will do everything to win this match.
How do you explain, against Narbonne, the difficulty experienced by the USM three-quarter line to keep the ball and develop your game?
It is true that it was hard. We finished this match at 13. But hey, we worked together. We defended well at the end, we managed the last fifteen minutes really well, that’s why we managed to get this victory.
Was the problem physical or technical?
I think it was more technical than physical. Yes, I think we were ready but not too ready in the head. That was the problem and I repeat, we did not have a good week of training before Narbonne even though we knew very well that the Audois were going to be very aggressive. There, we did not respect our game system, so it paid dearly for us.
With all the injured, it will be all the more necessary as the group tightens up for the reception of Béziers.
Yes, of course we have a lot of injuries and two days that took two red cards. Obviously, the team has moved a little, we have to do a little rotations but we still have a competitive team, we envy it, we will do everything to win the match. it does not change anything, these absent players.
You are one of the new recruits of USM. How is your acclimatization going in Montauban?
Good, really good. I’m really happy here in Montauban with the club, the supporters, the staff. I am really comfortable here. Rugby question, we haven’t shown our best face so far. We won these three matches but without properly deploying our game system. Against Béziers, we will start to do so.
We saw you evolve at the rear but also at the wing. Do you still have a preference for your favorite job, in 15?
Yes, I’m more used to playing at the back but sometimes I can also play as a winger, that’s fine with me. What I want is to play every game and be in the 23.
Segundo, could you also hit a drop like the one Jérôme Bosviel managed on Friday night in Narbonne to give USM the victory?
(Laughs amused). I don’t think there is anyone like Jerome, but hey, we practice hitting drops. In any case, maybe yes I will be able to if the circumstances of the match wanted it. We know that a match can turn to a drop. But it is sure that if it is between the “Bos” and me, it is sure that it will be the “Bos” who will hit.
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