I recovered well! I took a shock to the head and following I had two rather complicated days but now it’s better. The doctors gave me the protocol, which went well. I am 100% for…
I recovered well! I took a shock to the head and following I had two rather complicated days but now it’s better. The doctors gave me the protocol, which went well. There I am 100% for this match against Colomiers.
Colomiers, you spent a season there in 2016-2017 (25 games, 3 tries). What does this club remind you of?
The memory that I have is that it is a very family club. It was above all the club that launched me into the professional world. I had a full season at 19 with great guys who are still in the squad and others who have joined the staff like Florian Nicot (current coach of three-quarters of Colomiers).
From the outside it seems that USC is a club that does not make noise but which each season is at the top of the table, how is it?
They tiptoe, but it’s not their fault. I have the impression that when you’re a club with a small budget, people don’t really care. However, it is a club that works well. When I was there, they had just made a Pro D2 semi-final when three seasons before, they were in Federal 1. They have a big formation with players who now play at the highest level like Gaëtan Barlot, Bastien Vergnes -Taillefer, and others who will arrive in the Top 14 next year like Pierre-Samuel Pacheco and Yann Peysson.
You lost in the first leg to Armandie (21-22) and you have a draw against Provence (23-23), what is the prevailing feeling before this trip?
We are necessarily revengeful. We want to do it twice by making up for the first leg and that disappointing draw from last week. When a team comes to take points from us, we want to give back to them.
From your experience in the Top 14 and your profile, we feel that you have grown in the group this season. It is reality ?
Yes, now I have switched to those who are the oldest so obviously I have a small role to play. Afterwards, it would be pretentious to consider me a leader because I am not a captain.
Precisely, during the absences of Farré and Duputs, were you one of those who spoke, especially with the young people who arrived in the third line?
I wasn’t the real captain, so not necessarily. But whether I’m captain or not, I’ll always talk or be quiet when needed. I try to bring what I can when I can. And then I find it hard not to speak… As far as young people are concerned, it is always important that there is a small transmission. When I was their age, I liked to have some advice from more experienced players so I slip them two, three. Afterwards, they are young people who have done the preparation with us, who have been there for some time now, so they know the tactics and the game plans.
