Oexperienced arrivals a little more tiptoe than that of Clément Sentubéry at the SA XV. This Friday, against Agen, the third row will play his eighth match in ten days of Pro D2, the sixth as a starter. He is by far the Charente recruit with the most playing time since this summer.
“The group is living well, the staff asks us for clear things, it helps with integration,” confirms the player, only 21 years old, who has already appeared as one of the bosses of the team on the sidelines.
It was partly for his leadership that he was approached. Captain of the Stade Toulousain hopefuls team for the last two seasons, crowned with two national titles, Clément Sentubéry held the helm alongside Paul Costes, Théo Ntamack and Mathis Castro-Ferreira.
“Here, we move the ball. That's what I like. »
“I wasn't necessarily the best on the pitch, but I knew I was being listened to. A bit like here with Gautier (Gibouin), when he speaks everyone is silent,” explains the third row, who remembers spending “indescribable moments” in red and black earth. “We are all very bonded now by these two seasons. »
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While some of his partners have taken the step towards the first team or even the XV of France (Costes was called to prepare for the Tournament), Clément Sentubéry only had his chance twice in the Top 14, for 38 short minutes last season. “I was a hopeful for three years, I had been around a bit. The objective was to gain playing time, experience and match against the big guys. »
“I’m good at just about everything”
He has already had the opportunity to do so at the SA . »
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The former Toulousain has already shown himself comfortable in many sectors, in a multitasking role that he appreciates. “I like having a lot of activity on the field. I know I'm going slower than the others. I know I'm good at just about everything, but I don't do everything extremely well. »
Running, tackling, scratching, jumping… and kicking, like his delicious grazing kick which gave George Tilsley a try when Brive came to Chanzy (25-28). “I love kicking the ball before or after practice. I don't know if my gesture came from there, it was instinctive! » laughs Clément Sentubéry.
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We can't help but see a little of the benefits of the Toulouse school, where we learn from a very young age alongside the older ones. Present in the professional staff, All Black third row Jerome Kaino and Samoan second row Joe Tekori have been mentoring the hopefuls in recent seasons. “We see them every day, they help you, give you little details that change a lot of things,” praises Bigourdan.
Born in Pouyastruc, trained in Tarbes by Bertrand Cazamayou, current coach of US Cognac, the flanker had never been so far from his Hautes-Pyrénées. “I miss not seeing the mountains,” he smiles. In the meantime, he continues to climb them at high speed.
