His name was circulating last season. A little less this year, even if he remained on the radar. Cheikh Tiberghien (24 years old) finally tasted the French XV when he was least expected, during the week preceding the last test match against Argentina (37-23). Rowing's fullback was just returning from injury. If he does not yet have a selection, the one who will start against Stade Français this Sunday has set a first milestone. He gives him ideas for the future.
What did you take away from these three days with the XV of France?
I was next to the best French people, the best in the championship. You can only learn. You feel like it's going fast. It allowed me to join the France group and see how it works. Now I know. I spoke well with Fabien (Galthié). But that doesn't mean I'm going back. It is my performance which will dictate the choices. It's up to me to make good ones. That's the only thing that will count.
Is this a marker in your career?
My goal is to go back there. Clearly. I already wanted it before, so now… The fact of having gone to Marcoussis makes me want to be on the pitch and play. But that’s the lot of all French players. When you get into rugby, you train with the pros. They call you to make up the number. Afterwards, you quickly want to play. The French team is the same thing. I want to perform well to earn my place. It only depends on me. There is the coach's choice, of course, but it's up to me to do what it takes to be seen and called.
Did you expect it?
At that moment, when he called me, no. It was the last match of the tour. I was injured in Lyon (Editor's note, tear in the pectoral during the 38-49 victory, October 26) so I expected it even less. I was going to start again when I returned from vacation (November 14). Finally, I made my return with the Blues.
What were the coach's words?
I had already spoken to him on the phone at the start of the season. I also had Patrick Arlettaz (attack coach of the XV of France) who warned me that he was following me. I was on the list with around sixty players. I had to be ready at all times. It was before the tour. Fabien (Galthié), I had already spoken a little with him when he came to Bayonne last May. In Marcoussis, it was quite brief. He is there to manage his team. They had a match to prepare against Argentina. The first thing he told me was to have fun and enjoy the moment. He was happy that I was there. It's important because I didn't really know where I was going with my injury. He asked me to come anyway, told me that it was really an opportunity for me to see how things go, to save as much as possible.
“He told me that it was an opportunity for me to see how things go, to save as much as possible”
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And about your game?
He told me that I had done good things and had a good last season. Afterwards, I don't know the selection criteria. He encouraged me to continue doing what I was good at. I still have lots of things to improve, like consistency, for example, or my kicking game. It’s super important at the international level. Being left-handed is an advantage, but if you have a bad left foot, it's no use. Overall, he had fairly standard encouragement.
Did you know your partners?
I knew a lot of them. Moefana, I am very close to him. We knew each other very young. I was often in the room with him during the selections.
Also this time?
No. I was all alone! I was supposed to be with Temo (Matiu) but he arrived a little later and I had the room to myself in the end.
The match
On a bike, we would talk about taking the suction. Rowing has an interesting end to the year in the Top 14. In ambush in the rankings, Grégory Patat's group hosts Stade Français this Sunday evening, before going to Vannes (December 21) and welcoming Castres (December 28). A full success is possible even if the last disappointing setback in Toulon (39-19) is there to remind us that series of victories, as previously (La Rochelle, Racing, Lyon, Toulouse), are built above all on the field. “We have seen the calendar, we have a vision of the matches to come,” admits Gerard Fraser, the backs coach. But in rugby, we quickly see that if we are not focused on a match, it is difficult to win. » Looking straight ahead is still the best way to move forward. Decimated at the pillar position (Tagi, Tatafu, Bethune and Castillon injured, Cormenier uncertain, Bordelai ill), Rowing recorded valuable returns like Tiberghien, Maqala, Carreras and Megdoud.
