Last Saturday he scored the test that brought the CO back to the race against Racing. Gauthier Doubrère, who arrived discreetly from Mont-de-Marsan this season, settles behind the Castres fray. Meet another Gersois of all the club’s scorers as Castres Olympique travel to the Stade Français this Saturday (5pm).
For Castres Olympique fans who don’t know you perfectly, can you summarize your background?
I was born in Tarbes, but I lived near Bassoues (medieval village near Marciac in the Gers, ed). My father is president of the Bassoues club, I got my first license there, there was an agreement with Vic-Fezensac. I played there until Minimes then went to Auch where I did all my courses: Crabos, Reichel. I had a year of Federal 1 in Auch, at 18. Then I left for three years in Bordeaux, then three years in Biarritz and Mont-de-Marsan last season.
And it was in Auch that you played with Anthony Jelonch and Antoine Dupont.
With Anthony, we were together in Vic-Fezensac, we were 8 or 9 years old. With Antoine, he was in Auch yes. We were interns at the same high school.
Have you kept in touch with them?
Yup ! Antonio is my best friend. Also, when I got here, since I didn’t have lodgings yet, I went to sleep with him. It was a bit strange sleeping with an opponent from Toulouse (laughs). But he is a friend. I’m closer to Anthony because our parents live nearby, as soon as we get home we are together. We see Antoine from time to time but less regularly.
Both wore CO jerseys. Did you discuss your coming to Castres with them?
Yes, they were very happy for me. They sold me the club very well. For me it was an opportunity and a great challenge.
Especially with huge competition in the fray?
True, I don’t know how many scrum-halfs we are (smiles), Rory Kockott is also applying. But hey, I play a little more at the moment. The coach trusts me more. Sure, it’s because of injuries, but the more you play, the more confident you become. It’s easier by chaining. At the beginning of the season I suffered a bit from the event, I was a little behind, maybe I wasn’t involved enough in the game, now I can make more coherent decisions, I’m more forward. It took a period of adjustment in which I didn’t put the right things at the beginning of the season. What changes with Mont-de-Marsan is above all the speed and rapidity of the decision-making process.
A good decision that got you signed up for a valuable test last Saturday?
Yes, but at that moment the Racing scrum-half had a yellow card, the full-back and the full-back were at odds, it was an opportunity, but it feels good. Friends laugh a little at me because it’s my longest distance test. I had to score about ten tries, but it was always line-of-sight, in pick and go. There I had to run 15 meters, it’s very cool for me (laughs). Bring confidence.
How do you experience the presence of Rory Kockott, scrum-half with character to train?
When I signed Castres, I had no idea he was going to be part of the coaches. This is support, but it can be just as complicated. Rory, we have him behind us every day, he pushes us, he puts us in our last trenches. But he is very good, he made me progress. He knows the job and puts us under pressure. Benjamin Urdapilleta is also always behind the scrum-half, but he lets decisions be made, manages the game, makes concessions.
How do you deal with the trip to the Stade Français?
It’s extremely important. This could become a historic match as few remember an OC victory in Paris. The Parisians are full of confidence, it can only be beneficial for us, we have to play a very important game. Apart from La Rochelle, we’ve played well away and we’ve never been paid, it’s an opportunity to play a full game, it would be good for us.
