Often injured in recent months or even his last seasons, Matthias Haddad managed to continue at the start of the year and has already played six of the nine La Rochelle matches. This Saturday against Stade Français, he played an excellent game.
His little post-breakthrough gluttony, where he did not release the ball on the ground before leaving, followed immediately by a forward strike taken in front, converted into points by Paris, could clearly have knocked him out of his match, half an hour of play. Nay. Returning from a month's absence, Matthias Haddad-Victor delivered a brilliant performance on Saturday, able to validate his gradual return to the forefront, after two years of unpleasant struggles between knee operations, relapses and concussions.
The La Rochelle caravel needed a number 8 in the absence – for several outings – of Alldritt, Boudehent and Cancoriet? The native of La Rochelle, who while still a teenager had very quickly caught the eye of the Blues coach, Fabien Galthié, took up the challenge as he did just two years ago. He did it in the shadows – as evidenced by his 100% tackling (nine out of nine) – as well as offensively since he “broke” three of them. He also moved without blinking to the four corners of the field. “He gained a lot of meters in attack, he must be happy with his good performance in number 8”judges maritime coach Donnacha Ryan.
And the person concerned agrees, all smiles : “I like this role, there is a lot of responsibility, we can have more fun. It's a slightly different aspect of the game and I always take pleasure in being able to carry balls, tackle, play in Rugby it’s a treat to be on the field and I can take any number, I don’t care!” Double youth world champion, Haddad-Victor would be wrong to deprive himself of it, as he has so much time to make up.
France
Rugby
