“I sometimes have doubts”, Anthony Jelonch’s striking confessions on his return from injury

If the group exit of Charles Ollivon on Wednesday may have surprised many, the Toulonnais being part of the executives of the XV of France, the release of Anthony Jelonch, who will start in Bayonne with Toulouse, is less surprising.

We must not forget that the Toulouse man is coming back from injury, and not from a small injury (a rupture of the cruciate ligaments last January). He therefore needs time to gain strength in the club before finding a place in the French XV. This temporary return to the club therefore does not surprise anyone, and in particular not the main person concerned.

“I’m still missing a few automations”

As we can read in L'Equipe, Anthony Jelonch, who will start in 8 this evening in Bayonne, knows well that he still has to accumulate playing time to claim to settle down for good with the blues. Especially since the third line has experienced two long injuries in a row, which prompts twice as much caution, and perhaps twice as much fear. Because yes, Anthony Jelonch, after two hard blows in quick succession, there is still a little apprehension that remains in the back of my mind. Or at least there was, because this fear is fading little by little.

I feel better and better. But I'm still missing some automation in the field. I'm still not always in the right interval, in the right timing. You earn all of that by training and playing. When you've been arrested for eight months, it's always complicated when you come back. You have a lot of desire, but sometimes you don't have the right placements or the right benchmarks and that spoils things a little (…) I sometimes doubt but the first injury taught me to trust me. As it went well, I know I can get back to my best level. Today, I am no longer at the stage of asking myself questions.

This feeling is entirely shared by the staff of Stade Toulousain, starting with Clément Poitrenaud. His return is certainly a good thing for the team, given that the squad is deprived of quite a few executives, but it is also a good thing for him in his development. This does not allow him to skip steps and that is important.

When you don't play for such a long time (…) you need to find some rhythm (…) Anthony is starting to get a little more minutes in his legs, which is reflected in the quality of his performances. He is gaining strength and that is good for us and for him. We are very happy that he came back to give us a helping hand.

Anthony Jelonche will return to the France group after this match in Bayonne. A match where the French champions can hope to take first place in the event of victory.