Top 14 – Montpellier: Jordan Uelese, the awakening of a leader

Let's put it straight away: Jordan Uelese was one of the international class players recruited last offseason by the MHR. If his CV was not as rich as those of the Englishman Billy Vunipola or the Scottish Stuart Hogg, it had to be admitted that the Australian hooker arrived with a certain pedigree: 19 caps with Australia, a World Cup and five editions of the Rugby Championship to his credit. Not bad though!
Except that its premiere did not go as planned. Thrown into the deep end for the trip to the Stade Français (5th day) which the Montpellier team had negotiated perfectly in the first half (6-13 at the break), Uelese missed six of his nine throws into touch (including two in the goal zone). mark) after coming into play in the 55th minute. Individual errors which added to others and led to a dry defeat (29-20) while victory was within reach. Manager Joan Caudullo, a former hooker, remembers this match: “To know the position, I know that it is never easy to enter during the game, and moreover in a new club. The benchmarks with the line leaders change, the fatigue of others comes into play, all this can lead to errors. » Aware of these multiple factors, the Hérault manager refused to attack his recruit: “I will not target any player”he declared post-match. A judgment made by many Montpellier supporters, who feared a casting error in Montpellier recruitment. Except that in life (and fortunately) everyone has the right to a second chance. And Uelese knew how to grasp it. This took the form of his first start of the season, for the visit of Stade Rochelais to the GGL Stadium. Everything except a gift you might say…

Caudullo: “He realized that he had to work”

Well no. Under a torrential rain, the ex-wallaby brought valuable qualities to the maritime armada: his physical dimension, his power, his harshness. “We recruited him because he is strong in combat and melee. He is very good in the middle of the field and fits well with our project which wants to make Montpellier a tough team to play against. Besides, Jordan is one of the players who changed the team's mindset in the fight and he must become a leader of the team. » It's true. Uelese's contribution to the forward game is undeniable: in the scrum, the Australian is a real pallet truck when his power works wonders in the ground game and in mauls. We saw this clearly against La Rochelle, which the Montpellier residents defeated 16 to 0.

However, Uelese knows he still has work to do. Particularly on his throw, a sector in which he had failed Jean-Bouin. “He realized that he had to work on his throwing and he required additional sessions with his partners. Since then, things have been much better”appreciates Caudullo. The Australian seems to have found good marks with the Hérault jumpers like Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Yacouba Camara or Florian Verhaeghe. The first city, which is the keystone of the MHR alignment, will however not be on the trip to Bordeaux. In his absence, the two other men mentioned will have to take their responsibilities and give confidence to their front-line partner. In any case, Uelese will make his fourth start in a row this Saturday, after those against Stade Rochelais, Castres and Pau. Enough to reassure those who may have doubted his qualities which still earned him 19 caps with the Wallabies…