Having arrived at Racing Club Narbonnais de Vannes this summer, after an incredible season in Brittany concluded by a Pro D2 title and a rise to the Top 14, the 34-year-old right pillar played his first match in the orange and black jersey last Saturday against Suresnes (23-18). Jérémy Boyadjis is now focused on the first trip to Albi, this Friday evening (7:30 p.m.).
How did your first match in Racing colours go on Saturday evening?
It was a return to competition, I’m happy to be back with the happy ones. I’m in a good group, it went very well. We managed to put into practice as best we could what we had done during the pre-season. In Béziers, we were dominated in all areas of the game, a complicated match. This time, we re-centralized against Suresnes. Rather satisfied in a sense, there is still a lack of rhythm because it was only the first match. I think we made a lot of mistakes, we have to erase that for the next matches.
Is this victory good to start the championship?
If we can win hard like this match, every weekend, and be champion at the end, I’ll sign right away. I’m happy.
What happened in the scrum, or were you penalized too many times?
I think the group is still under construction, a good Suresnes team opposite too. We need to focus on ourselves, find our good foundations and see what happens next. There are quite a few players who are used to playing together, but it’s true that on the first line, there have been a lot of changes. We need to find each other and very quickly because the championship is going to go quickly.
I made a choice of life, of family. Above all, I liked the project.
Is the refereeing also different compared to the higher levels?
I think the National is more naughty than the other championships. There are already more scrums. At the top level, teams want to play a scrum just to get going, here it’s really to win it or shake up the opponent. I think that’s the difference. We have a big pack, we have to be dominant and not get moved.
And on Friday evening, it’s an even stronger team facing Albi…
It’s tougher. I’ve met Albi in the past, a long time ago. Now, I don’t really know the players who play. We watched the videos, they’re really solid. But we are too. We have to prove ourselves at some point, we’re going there to play the best possible match and with real intentions. To follow up in Albi, a big part of the championship, that would be good, if we manage to do something there, it’s great. We have to play cleanly, in every sense of the word, there’s a way to play a good game.
Personally, what did you come to Narbonne for?
I came to have fun, because of a personal choice. I made a choice of life, of family. I liked the region, and the project at Racing especially. I had a title last year with Vannes and the rise to Top 14, it would be great to do a double in an ambitious club.
