Top 14 (5th day). RC Vannes – Racing 92, Saturday (2:30 p.m.)
This is the nice surprise of this start of the season at RC Vannes! After four days, Thomas Moukoro has already played as much in the Top 14 as during the last exercise in Pro D2. Substitute during the first three matches, the player loaned by Racing 92 since the start of 2024 celebrated his first start with RCV with a try, in Toulon, last Saturday.
“The preparation went well, I had good feelings and I think the coaches were quite satisfied with my performances,” he confides.
Since the start of the season, the young 22-year-old has been Mako Vunipola’s understudy in the left pillar position and seems to have gained a head start in the hierarchy over his competitors Charlesty Berguet (24 years old) and Hugo Djehi (26 years old) .
With Vunipola, “we learn something every day”
In a few months, he has reached a milestone and is taking advantage of the experience of the holder of the position to continue his progress. “Everyone knows he’s a rugby legend. He is one of the best in history at this position. So obviously, as a young player, I draw inspiration from him on a daily basis, I ask him questions and it’s very motivating to be by his side. We learn something every day, that’s for sure. »
Moukoro (1.85 m, 121 kg) has everything of a modern left pillar: mobile, enduring, capable of passing after contact. “We know that rugby now goes very quickly, it moves a lot. You have to do one task after another, it’s very physically demanding. »
Since the start of the season, he has also reassured the fundamentals of the position such as the closed scrum, one of the Bretons’ strong points. “Since the start of the season, and especially against LOU, there were good feelings in the scrum, we were rather dominant. We work a lot on this sector of play. It is one of our strong points and it must remain so. »
And here again, he can rely on all the science of the game from Vunipola to improve, “a boss in this sector since always. He gives me little advice every day. »
At the end of the contract with Racing 92
The one who is one of the six Vannes players to have played in the first four matches*, should have a fifth score on Saturday against his training club.
He will reunite with his former teammates, with whom he discovered the Top 14 (8 matches), but with a new status: that of Pro D2 champion.
“Being part of this adventure was fabulous. And I’m a young player, I need playing time, above all to improve. Here, there is a work ethic, the one I needed to, I think, take the next step. »
At the end of his contract with Racing at the end of the season, could he continue his progress in Morbihan? “We’re not even halfway through the season yet, I’m more focused on the matches to come. But no door is closed, especially since things are going well here. » RC Vannes must surely be very attentive to the file.
*with Kamikamica, Le Bail, Debaës, van der Merwe and Boulier
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