Top 14 – Giovanni Habel-Küffner (Bayonne): “When I come off the field, like in Toulon, getting whistled, I love it!”

What were the words after the slap received in Toulon?

We had a rather difficult match there. We were dominated up front, it was a comeback match. We missed the first twenty minutes and it was difficult then to get back into the match. We had a good start to the season and we need to regain the “momentum” that we had before the break, to put our game back in place this weekend.

At Mayol, didn't you take tests too easily?

Yes, we were not present in defense. The Toulonnais had the ball quickly and that caused us problems. This is what will have to be rectified this weekend.

For the second time in a row, you will receive Jean Dauger on a Sunday evening. Does this have an impact for you?

It depends on each person. These are matches that we want to play, especially if we hope to participate in final phase matches, because they take place in the evening, at 9 p.m. Sunday, we will therefore take advantage of the event. What's hard is that the day is long, you're just waiting for the match. But for the public, it's a good thing. We only had one meeting at 9 p.m., against Toulouse. The ticket offices were closed, which was good.

What do you do to keep yourself busy while waiting for the match?

Oh, I do as little as possible… I want to save my energy for the evening. I'm resting at home.

Stade français has just passed 40 points to Racing. What type of meeting do you expect on Sunday?

I lived two wonderful years in Paris. Their start to the season was more difficult, but Stade Français found form last week. I'm expecting a somewhat similar match this weekend. I think the Parisians will come to take points, with a rather strong team. I hope it will be a good match.

On a personal level, will this meeting against your former team be special?

I have lots of friends there. When you play against your old team, it would be a lie to say no, but we are all competitors and we want to win every game. It will be cool on Sunday to see my old teammates again, to be able to play against them. It will be a nice moment.

How did Stade Français count in your progress?

Stade Français gave me a lot of confidence. Before arriving in the capital, I spent seven years in Pau. My time in Paris gave me certainty that I could go to another club, while still having playing time.

From a good Top 14 player in Pau, you have become a good Top 14 player in a team that is playing for qualification….

Yes, in Paris, I played the final phase for the first time. With Pau, there were ups and downs, but we were more in the battle to maintain. Playing the final phase with Paris opened my eyes to all the possibilities there could be. Every player wants to win the Brennus, but not every team can do it. Last year, I really thought we could go all the way, but our path ended in the semi-final. It was, despite everything, a great adventure.

What are your memorable memories in Paris?

The semi-final played in Bordeaux. It was the first time I had gone this far. We had a very close-knit group. I think that last year we could really hope to win the Brennus.

And in the city? How did you approach the move from Pau to the capital?

It is very difficult to compare. I was asked which was better between Paris, Pau and Bayonne. Paris is a truly special city, it is unique in the world. So yes, there is not the nature that we could have in Pau, there is not the beach like in the Basque Country, but I spent two very wonderful years visiting museums, going to shows or at concerts. There are also plenty of restaurants. In Paris, you have everything you want.

Did you like this city, where people live at 100 miles an hour?

Yes, but when I went to town, I was never in too much of a hurry. I took the time to appreciate the monuments, the buildings. I grew up in a small town in New Zealand. When I told my friends that I lived in Paris, it was special.

Did you have the opportunity to speak with your ex-partners this week?

I cheered them on last week for the derby. There, it’s silence (smile).

You left the capital a year before the end of your contract. How did you experience this premature end to your adventure?

I knew that my adventure at Stade Français was coming to an end, but I wanted to end it by going to the final. It was a bit brutal that everything ended in the semi-final. Behind, the door to a new adventure, in Bayonne, has opened.

Why did you decide to join Rowing?

When I was in Pau, I spent a lot of time in Bayonne. I knew the region. I also liked Grégory Patat's speech, his project, his vision for the team. Finally, the Basque Country is really beautiful. I have two children growing up, I wanted to leave Paris and the apartment we were in to have a house with a garden. I also had connections with Joël Rey, who trained me in Pau. The choice was therefore rather simple.

How did the reunion with Joël Rey go?

I lived my first year in Pau with him. He coached the forwards and didn't speak a word of English. I didn't speak a word of French, but between us, it worked. Then I played a lot of time with his son, Lucas. We stayed in touch. When he called me to ask if I wanted to play in Bayonne, my answer was “of course”.

Especially since Bayonne has already wanted to recruit you for a while…

Yes, we spoke a few years ago, but I had never had the opportunity to live in a big city like Paris. I wanted to live this experience. My wife was happy. We wanted to go back to a smaller, more “chill” town.

What do you think of your start to the season?

It's a difficult question… I only played twenty minutes in the first match and I came out with a concussion. I missed the meeting in Pau, which I had been aiming for since the calendar came out. I was disgusted! Luckily I didn't have too much trouble coming back and now I'm trying to put the team ahead when I carry the ball. I want to bring experience to this team, because I think we have a really good group of players, capable of doing something. We just need to find the momentum again.

From an outside perspective, you seem to be gaining momentum in recent weeks…

I don't think about that. I try to do the same thing every weekend. There, I am perhaps more consistent…

You mainly occupied the position of eight in Paris. Today you alternate between six and eight. What impact does this have?

When I signed, I thought I was going to share the eight position with Cassiem instead. On the third day, the staff asked me if I could slide into a six. I answered yes. We have this lineup with Cassiem in eight and me in six. It worked well. As long as I'm on the pitch, I'm happy. In Pau, already, we often rotated between Beka Gorgadze and Luke Whitelock on positions six and eight. It's not a big change for me.

What can you tell us about your complementarity with Uzair Cassiem?

Uzair is a very good player who carries the ball. He's a machine, a warrior. He shares his experience with me. Together, we try to win the advantage line for the team.

You are rather calm on a daily basis. Are you transforming yourself on the ground?

I think I'm a little more annoying on the pitch, yes (smile). I like this side of rugby. It doesn't scare me when, in a match like in Toulon, I leave the field and get whistled. I adore ! It's linked to my style of play and I don't plan to stop.

You like to bicker on the pitch…

It's not like rugby back then, but there's still a bit of roominess, I think it's good. Once the match is over, we shake hands, I have lots of friends in the world of rugby. Besides, it's starting to get harder and harder to be like that, because I've played with a lot of people in my career and the guys have changed clubs.

Do you have a specific hair color planned for this match?

That's a good question. I'm thinking about it. Maybe I'll go back to the blue hair, which we won matches with. Maybe there will be a little flash of pink. I'm going to see that!