Having passed through Aviron Bayonnais when he was young, scrum half Christophe Loustalot (32 years old) is looking forward to the Landes derby, against US Dax, which will take place on Jean Dauger’s lawn, Saturday after -noon (4:30 p.m.).
Did you come away from the match against the BO with certainties?
It was a sigh of relief to beat them. There was style, we played a good match, we were disciplined, we defended well. Overall, it’s positive. It took us three tries and we are on the verge of getting a bonus. The conquest was good, it was nice, it was reassuring.
With your old perspective, what analysis do you make of this first third of the championship?
We are super fickle. We manage to have very big matches against the big guys, matching or beating them. And on encounters more within our reach, we were a little complacent and fell by the wayside each time. Now we no longer have any room for error. We lost three times at home, it’s not good at all. We won’t repeat the start of the season, and now we have to look ahead and try to grab points here and there, to try to move up the rankings.
What is the watchword before this Landes derby?
We must maintain the behavior we have had for two weeks. In Aix-en-Provence, even if we take 45, the match is drinkable. Behind it, there is this big performance at home against Biarritz. Let’s try to keep this level of commitment, of intensity and that will validate the state of mind. It is essential to have a level of commitment similar to that of the last fortnight, as during the matches against Brive and Angoulême.
Do you see this match more as the “derby of 40”, the opportunity to balance your record or the possibility of winning a second match in a row?
Frankly, we tried to approach this meeting as the last match of an away block. Yes, there is a fight to be the king of the 40. Last year, they beat us twice. We must have this feeling of revenge for this. However, the victory of the Dacquois was deserved, but we must try to restore the Mons image a little. In a rather difficult situation for us, this match, in the event of a good result, would do the greatest good for the club, the players and the supporters.
Dax won both rounds last year. Did you talk about it this week?
I think everyone remembers that. In the end, it marked our season. We had five wins before the first leg and we lost the derby there. On the way back, we were up and down and this defeat at home killed our end of the season. Behind, we don’t fit into the six, they do. There’s no need to talk about it again. It’s in the past. You shouldn’t put any particular pressure on yourself because of the derby. It remains a rugby match that must be well prepared, but you must not overdo it to be present on the big day.
This match was relocated to Bayonne. Does this change anything for the team?
We are super happy to go play Jean Dauger. We are Pro D2 players. We only watch this stage on TV. It’s a great lawn. If the weather is nice, there could be play. There will be 10,000 people at the stadium, we can only be happy to play in contexts like that.
Will you feel a little less outside than if the meeting had taken place at Maurice Boyau?
It’s still an away match! Last year, at Maurice Boyau, it was quite hostile, it rained, it was in November. But this is a different context. Jean Dauger is a fast surface. In Boyau, when it rains, it’s greasy. I hope we see a good rugby match.
You played in Bayonne from 2009 to 2015. Does this add symbolism to this relocation?
Ugh… It’s been a long time since I last walked on this lawn. I had the chance, when I was young, to walk in it. I was injured when we won with Stade Monois against Bayonne. On Saturday, we will only be happy if there is a victory. Whether the match takes place in Dauger, Dax or Mont-de-Marsan, the result will take precedence over the context of the match.
Manuel Blondeau / Icon Sport
What memorable memories do you have on this lawn?
My first start, in 2014, against Toulon who had just become European champions. It was a Friday evening, the first day of the championship. I managed to do the whole season with the professional team. I was young, but it remains a disillusionment to have participated in the rowing descent. We didn’t really see it coming. We go down with 52 or 53 points, it’s a record. Bayonne was already going in a good direction at that time, there were big generations a bit like now. There was Ollivon, Etrillard, Ugalde, Otazo, Fuster… Very good young people. Chouzenoux began to play. I have good memories of playing on this team. We had a really good band, the group was nice, but the failure meant that we all took other directions. It’s a bit of a shame. This is the regret of my career.
Will you think about it on Saturday when you see these places again?
No, because it’s the past. Saturday, I will be happy to play Jean Dauger, there will be a lot of people. I’m not going to dwell on the past, because you can’t change it. Everyone had their own career afterwards.
More personally, what analysis do you make of your start to the season?
I think I performed consistently, as I was coming back from four months of injuries. I had a broken foot in February, it cut my season short. I came back in three or four months instead of six, it took a lot of effort. I’m often a substitute, because there’s competition, but if my season can be like that, that’s fine with me. Afterwards, if I can be a little better, I’ll take it. In any case, I want to be consistent and efficient when I am called upon.
After the match against Aurillac, you piqued your partners by saying “I think there are guys who don’t have the level”. Did you do that out of emotion and do you regret those words?
I don’t really want to come back to it. I didn’t have to say that, it came out of anger after this third defeat at home.
You are at the end of your contract. At 32, what will your future hold?
Will the club want to move on to a new cycle? Would I want to continue? I don’t know… It will come when the time is right. For the moment, I don’t ask myself too many questions. My career is behind me. If I enjoy it, I will continue to Mont-de-Marsan or elsewhere if I have to leave. If I’ve had enough and I’m physically struggling, it won’t hurt to stop.
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