Top 14 – Antoine Frisch: “Toulon is a step above Munster”

You are coming back from a physical problem. How do you feel?

With each passing week, I feel better and better. With the start of the season, I lower my head and take refuge in work. I work, I work and I work every day. The objective is to gain strength. It’s always the same thing. I am looking for individual momentum for the good of the collective. I’m looking for this. I have a great opportunity this weekend. I don’t know yet if I’m going to play (he will start, according to our information Editor’s note). I will do everything to help the team win. I don’t want to set my sights wrong. I don’t want to think about being good individually. I think above all about collective performance and the fact that we can play well and win. I won’t hide the fact that there was a bit of frustration at the start of the season. I am a quiet person. I try to sort things out. I don’t have to ask myself too many questions and go all out. I am sure that it will go well and that I will gain strength.

A few weeks ago, at a press conference, you judged your start to the season to be quite mediocre. This honesty is rather rare in the sporting world…

I had a slightly affected preseason. When you arrive at a new club, it’s not ideal. Today, I say it and I don’t hide it: I am 100%. I just can’t wait to show it on the field and prove myself here. I didn’t have the start to the season that I wanted. It’s a truth that must be told. Since my arrival, I have felt a lot of kindness from people. And honestly, if there have been criticisms of my performance, they are valid and normal. I don’t have a problem with that. I just want to tell our fans that I am focused on the next game and doing better every day. That’s all that matters. I need to free myself. In defense, it’s okay, but I need to free myself especially in the offensive sector. I feel better in this aspect. It’s coming. Everything is now clear in my head in terms of the system and my role for the team. It wasn’t possible for it to come immediately anyway. It takes time. Now that time is over. I still have to show myself in the upcoming matches. I need to move on, but I reassure you… The confidence is there. I haven’t lost too much confidence. She’s still there. I don’t worry about that.

I can’t wait to have this reference match.

You still mentioned a “frustration”…

It’s legitimate, but I only know one way… work! I don’t brood over this frustration. You know, I went through much more difficult times in my career. I know not to ask too many questions and to seize the opportunities given to me. I can’t wait to have this reference match. I am in this mentality.

For the first time in your career, you were put in the media spotlight with high expectations. Was it difficult to manage?

Frankly, and in the most honest way possible, not at all! From the beginning, I take everything that happens with happiness, opening both arms. I am happiest with what is happening to me. I don’t take it with pressure at all. There is no constraint. There is only excitement. All the noise around me, I don’t pay much attention to it. What matters is being good on the pitch. The rest (smile)… I concentrate on the requests of Pierre (Mignoni, Editor’s note), of Andrea (Masi, Editor’s note). I focus on playing as well as possible with my teammates. The rest is just noise. Me, I just want to be focused on the pitch and be good. I don’t waste energy elsewhere.

You left France for a while. Can we talk about an adaptation phase equivalent to that of a foreign player in your case?

You said it, I left France for a few years. Honestly, I was used to playing differently from what we can do here, in France. Abroad, the game is made of a lot of volume. It is quite “flashy” (handsome, Editor’s note), but above all it is very structured. This was even more the case in Munster. To play at Bristol and Munster, I had to get used to that. Now, in France, it’s different. It’s a different rugby, a different championship. There is a lot less structure. As a result, it is not a reverse path to take, but a different path to follow. I don’t want to use that as an excuse, but, yes, it took me some time to adapt. Now I think I’ve adapted to it all. Now I need to show what I can do on the pitch. I have to play big matches to repay the trust granted. Our game is very clear. It’s just different from what I’ve experienced before. I also had to get to know other partners, a new club, and a new region. Things happen naturally, and everything comes through work. I repeat, but it is the work that will allow me to move towards the best. I’m not worried despite my start to the season. I have always been able to adapt before. I follow the process.

In a club that is not much like the others in the French rugby landscape…

It’s an incredible club. I was expecting that… It’s honestly incredible. I struggle to find words. It’s the biggest club I’ve played for. It’s a step above Munster. It’s different…as the slogan says! The passion, the intensity of the supporters… Everyone is experiencing it to the fullest! I came for that, to experience strong emotions. Here you have what you need. This is what I was looking for. There are a lot of things that change, including being recognized on the street so often. Some guys come knock on my car and talk to me about the match (laughs). Honestly, people are happy with our start to the season. To sum it all up a little: Toulon is intense!

You contrast a bit with this environment. You are often described as someone who is calm in life. Isn’t that too disturbing?

I feel this enthusiasm (laughs), even if I am someone who is calm. It’s my personality. But, I assure you… I’m all in! I’m waiting to let go a little on the ground to experience it even more fully. I went from Munster to Toulon and they are two different mentalities. I draw from both to build myself.

You mentioned some differences between French rugby and what you knew before. Did the Top 14 surprise you on any of the components of the game?

First of all, I’m not surprised by the level, but I particularly like one aspect of the Top 14.

In counterattack, everyone lights up

We listen to you…

The teams light up on the recovery balls! In the Premiership and URC, everything is more predefined. When you recover a ball there, there is no desire to set it on fire like here. In the Top 14, in this French game, in this culture of French flair, everyone is looking for the spark. It’s a unique mentality. In counterattack, everyone lights up. We are not bad on this point (smile). Everyone looks for the opponent’s little hesitation to gain the upper hand. Here, really, the slightest mistake is paid for in cash. In the Top 14, we prepare for international matches, even if I haven’t had the opportunity to play many of them yet. That’s the big difference. For the rest, I found the fronts generally stronger. Here there is a front game that I have not seen elsewhere. Every weekend you play the best players in the world. This is not the case in other championships. The individuals are unique in the Top 14.

You mentioned test matches… The list of the French XV for the 6 Nations Tournament will be announced shortly. Are you thinking about it?

If I am called, I will go with pleasure. But at this moment, I want to tell you that I especially need to concentrate above all on my matches with Toulon. This weekend, there is a decisive match against Harlequins to qualify for the round of 16 of the Champions Cup. I only think about that. I am determined to play it. I want to release THE match this weekend. For the Blues, it’s always in the back of my mind. This is obviously a goal, but it will also go through Toulon.

Recently, the staff of the XV of France were present at the RCT Campus. Did you have a discussion with Fabien Galthié or Patrick Arlettaz?

I didn’t meet anyone. I was hit in one thigh at that time. Quite honestly, I didn’t get a call. It’s not something that worries me. All that matters to me is to perform well with Toulon and to be present in this big match against Harlequins. I can’t see any further. That’s all that matters right now.