You remain with a defeat at home against La Rochelle. How do you analyze the start of the Racing 92 season?
The start of the season is like the Top 14: it goes quickly. It is sometimes cruel because we lost six points in the last two minutes (1). Perhaps, within four minutes, we would make another observation of our season. This championship is tough every weekend. It’s up to us to do everything we can, to work in the shadows, to be small and to show great things on the ground. And as I said, with perhaps a little more success, relaunch a positive dynamic.
Have you recovered well after the big shock suffered during the last match (2)?
Yes, very good (he pauses). Alright. I can’t miss this weekend’s game.
You are also coming back from shoulder surgery. Is all this behind you?
Everything is fine. I took the time, all summer, to treat my shoulder so that I could start again early and be able to achieve all the goals I have for this season. So, for now, I feel very good. It has to continue.
You went to Ireland, what did that bring you?
I went to see someone in Ireland for two weeks to continue my work a little and also to cut back a little. The seasons are long and if you treat yourself all summer at the club alone, it can be a bit sad. It also allows you to discover another way of working, of approaching injuries, a working framework. Lots of little things that we take or not but which allow us to either take the drama down or have more elements to work on afterwards.
You have been playing with Owen Farrell since the start of the season. How is it going?
It’s a legend that has happened. He arrived, quote, a bit on tiptoe, with the desire to discover everyone, also discover our culture in order to be able to enter the system as quickly as possible. He is someone who has an incredible natural aura, who carries a lot of people with him, in addition to all the qualities he has on the pitch. It’s exciting to work with him. He’s a champion, he wants to win, he gets up to win. I will improve a lot this year with him. I have already worked with a few big 10s, but he will bring me even more elements. It’s really enriching.
(1) Defeats at Castres (28-31, J1) by conceding a try in the 79th minute and against La Rochelle (16-17, J4) while Racing led 16-9 until the 75th minute
(2) He suffered a big blow to the head during an illegal clearance from Skelton (47′) before leaving visibly affected (70′)
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