XV of France – From struggles to big performances under the blue jersey: Jean-Baptiste Gros has come a long way

Without making any noise, far from the microphones that he avoids out of shyness, Jean-Baptiste Gros reminded us, in a resounding manner, that his place in the France group is not usurped. The left pillar, who already has 31 caps at just 25 years old, was very prominent against Japan and New Zealand. Not one to complain, the person concerned privately savors his exit from a dark tunnel.

Last April, to our columns, the person concerned confided in his doubts after having undergone two major surgical procedures in less than a year. Beyond his broken forearm, the player, discovered in Tarascon, suffered the worst injury for a prop: a cervical hernia. The latter made him lose some of his power in this same right side, preventing him from feeling comfortable in melee. “I wondered if I was going to be able to come back, to find my place. […] It put things back in their place. I questioned myself, particularly about Rugby and life. It was complicated to adapt to this solitude. You have the impression of no longer feeling like you belong, of being behind the others.” Away from the field, “Jibé” was able to count on the support of Toulon, with whom he extended until 2028, and the staff of the XV of France. “No one let go of me. We kept in touch in a simple way. It made me happy to receive a text message when I was immobilized.”

Mignoni: “He toughened himself mentally”

At his side at the RCT Campus, Pierre Mignoni inevitably takes a keen look at the performances of his protégé. “I'm not surprised by his level, but above all happy for him. He has worked a lot in the shadows. We often forget that he is a young player, who still needs time to make his whole voice heard. potential. He's regaining confidence. When you pay in a progression process, you pay cash. It was hard because he hadn't experienced that yet. mentally hardened but also in the way of approaching his daily.”

A necessary development for the Toulon manager: “I feel he is more serious in everything, much more conscientious in his routine. He now does things with meaning. This has allowed him to change. He is following his destiny. He is a man of duty, a boy of shadow. We need him in our locker room. He doesn't speak, but he works hard. He doesn't talk, but he leads by example. is beneficial for Toulon and France.”