Pro D2 – Montauban. The Tillous-Borde method changed everything: reporting at the heart of the new life of the USM

When the day starts in Sapiac, the morning dew is still present. There on the lawn, and on the windows of the weight room which already houses the injured players. Now the days are condensed. We arrive early but we leave earlier. And seeing them flourishing like this, we wonder how Sébastien Tillous-Borde and his staff managed to reform a united group in a few weeks. “There is a sort of osmosis between the players. I believe that this is the success of the start of the season,” confirms Jérôme Bosviel. To begin, let's not forget the essential: a staff who has chosen to work together. “The complete change of staff has been good. It's not a recomposed staff. There is no war. We see that they spend time together and that they like each other”, assures Fred Quercy.

Another type of management

When you walk through the bays of Sapiac in the middle of the week, there is a family atmosphere. Just look at these two little guys having fun on the sidelines. “During the holidays, Fred's son is there sometimes. So, I take mine too. They are the same age, they get along well. We try to train like a family and be like one outside of the ground too”, slips the USM manager in the middle of two back and forth trips between the field and the office. And like in a real family, everyone has their own little character that makes them endearing. “Stop yelling Jo!” blurted one of the physical trainers. “I don't yell, I speak loudly”, Snyman retorts, dragging his tackle bags. "I'm tired of shooting these things every day," justifies the forwards coach, smirking. Meanwhile, André Hough ensures that nothing is left behind by carefully distributing his blocks on the field, while chastising his South African counterpart. These two are a bit like Chip and Dale. When they lead the sessions, Sébastien Tillous-Borde takes the opportunity to spend time with those he has not yet seen.

While separate training is in full swing, with the forwards on one side and the three-quarters on the other, the manager heads towards the side of the injured players. Those most advanced in their rehabilitation are in the middle of a skills session with Antoine Lanne-Petit. The manager comes to tease some of them, always slipping in a kind word. And what could be a simple anecdote takes on its full meaning when you get to know this staff and their mode of operation. Today, no one is sidelined and the gang at Tillous-Borde is working to involve a whole group beyond a simple typical team. “We feel that Seb wants to concern everyone. He is always positive. There are no guys sidelined or differences like there can be with certain coaches who don't necessarily care about the players on whom they do not count”, rightly analyzes Thomas Larregain who is also back in great shape after a difficult year where he had a series of physical problems. “I told him before his return that he was surely going to have his best match since he arrived at Montauban,” raconte “STB”.

Early in the morning or later in the day, the steel steps that lead to the coaches' office are always busy. Before the lineup is announced, the staff takes the time to explain to the non-group players why they will not play the next match. “Sébastien talks to us a lot. He’s always a positive manager and that’s reassuring. He manages to keep us involved in the project,” assures the young third row, Corentin Coularis who has three match sheets this season. By his technical qualities of course but above all his sunny side, his experience as a player, his patience and his experience of failure too, Sébastien Tillous-Borde changed everything. Today, everyone has their speaking time, their place and each proposal is worth hearing.

“He had connected the horn to the brake!”

The word cohesion has also regained its full meaning. In the parking lot where the Sapiacains park, a car catches the eye. A sort of green van. Very kitsch. It is customized with a spoiler on which golden stripes are attached which float in the air while driving, USM stickers everywhere or even a candy machine hung between the two seats. “Did you see what Jo did?” snigger the players in the hallway on their way to the locker room. “It’s huge! I think this week it’s going to be for Cottin”. The famous “hood”. This season, the author of the best “ball” of the match inherits the van for a week and must make at least one personalization. “Every Monday we start with this game. Whether we stay with a victory or a defeat it doesn't matter, by starting with that, there is immediately an energy that is put in place. Of course, the staff can have the hood”, smiles Sébastien Tillous-Borde.

That week, Johan Snyman was applauded for his involvement. But after several days during which he did not go unnoticed in the city, there is almost no doubt that the South African will no longer put the wrong tee during matches! “Basically, we needed something funny that would allow guys to avoid doing stupid things, explains Jérôme Bosviel who heads the group of cohesion leaders. Every week we choose three or four actions and vote using the applause meter. It's not necessarily something that happens on the ground. It could be something else.”. Cameron Ruiz, physical trainer, also paid the price. But its customization, although ingenious, had to be aborted: “He had connected the horn to the brake! We had to remove it, it was too dangerous” says Robin Girou, team manager, with a laugh. As if relieved of his past demons, Sapiac finally seems at peace. What is there to continue on this momentum?