For Niort, it's an end to the year not as you hoped since you had two poor performances away from home. We saw that you clearly came to win at Graulhet, what did you miss?
I don't know what to tell you. We have a first half where we respect what we say to each other, we increase the intensity, we respond to the fight, we also know that they have what it takes to maintain. In fact, in the 2nd half, they rebel and we don't react, we no longer hold a ball and we don't speed up the game. It comes down to a few details but for a team that is supposed to be first and who has ambitions like ours, it's been a few away matches that we've been lying to ourselves a bit and in the end, we're having a slightly complicated Saturday or Sunday.
Despite this, the balance sheet is positive because you are in the first 2 places so we can say that the balance sheet is positive?
Yes, but it's a shared feeling because we're going to start first, we'll be first when we restart, but we're not happy with ourselves. As I told you, we are losing our Rugby a little, I have the impression that we are less hungry than at the start of the year, we are falling asleep a little, all because we are watching the ranking and we are first. We're going to need an electric shock when we start again, as you say, it's positive to be first but we're going to have to come back with the fangs like we had at the start of the year because playing matches like that, half-heartedly, and with all respect I have for Graulhet, this is not possible.
Can you tell us a little about this Graulhet team and how you found it?
True to its values. I think they have had a very, very complicated start to the season, there is a new staff that has been put in place and they do simple things, they put a lot of desire and courage on a pitch which is very, very complicated to play. They're a great team and I think if they put in the intensity like that, they won't be in this place in a few weeks.
Can you now talk about this Niort club that you discovered a few weeks ago? We have the impression that you are discovering a second youth
Of course ! As I told you at the start of the year, I left Tarbes with a bit of a bitter taste and the desire to take on a new challenge. Personally, things are going very well in Niort, we have a great group, we work very, very well and we are very, very happy there with my family. It’s true that I find this pleasure in playing rugby again.
We wish you to be in the play-offs at the end of the season and to experience great emotions with the Niort Rugby Club
Merci.
Comments collected by Loïc Colombié
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