We are ashamed, we showed a ridiculous image of the Section, from the beginning… to the end (nervous laughter), well the end too so there is not much to add. There are no other words that can come out of our mouths tonight.
Exactly, what were the words in the locker room?
There was especially debate over this last action. Even if it is anecdotal, you give 5 points to the opponent so it's ridiculous. We said to ourselves that we had to connect our brains well because we're not good at rugby and what's more, we can't put our heads together. So it's impossible to win at this level.
At the end the siren sounds, you have the ball, you play and you lose it. Montpellier scores and takes the bonus. What happened?
I'm not on the ground. I think the news is going badly but we need to be a little lucid. It's 23-3, we have nothing to gain, apart from maybe screwing over a guy… or giving them the offensive bonus. And that's what we did. (Ironic) So well done… well done!
The editorial team advises you
The editorial team advises you
More worryingly, you haven't shown anything in the game…
We were ridiculous in terms of rugby, from the head to the end. So it’s a huge slap in the face: we’re never able to put them in difficulty. When we go to their place, it's a penalty against us on a scrum 5 meters from their line, even though that's the only time when we can be worrying. We're never dangerous, we don't do three rucks in a row. We will have to get to work very quickly and things will change, otherwise it will be complicated.
There should already have been developments with the truce, the training course in Soustons. This is not the impression given…
Ah yes, there is no improvement compared to the last matches. And it's even worse because against Racing 92 we put in a better performance than that. Defensively, we lose all the collisions, all the high balls are for them, in the scrum we take a lot of penalties and we have touches stolen. So we can't hope for better than… Frankly, 16-3 was very good compared to our match… We can even still score around the 70-75th minute on a throw-in from 5 meters that we still manage to lose. So 16-3 was good. You're ridiculous but at least the gap is small. There, you take 30 and you give 5 points in the ranking with the bonus in Montpellier which was just ahead of you in the ranking. It hurts my head!
Did you feel any signs of this during the week?
I don't know, maybe Wednesday. In training we are there without being there. You have to stop hiding, waiting for the other person next door to do the job for you. We have to question ourselves, so that everyone gives the best of themselves individually. Then, collectively, it will be easier.
What is the problem: the fear of making a mistake, of dilettantism?
It's not the fear of doing wrong, because we had precisely said to ourselves that we shouldn't have it, that we should have fun, that we should have it, that we should or players in the match. We never were because we were incapable of keeping the ball. Every time we have a ruck, we take a contest. From there, you can say whatever you want, if you don't perform well on the ground in rugby, you can't play. It was our focus (during the offseason, Editor's note) but we still don't do them well. The scrum is not my domain but we were dominated, that's for sure.
Honestly, if we do this again next weekend, we have to stop rugby: you go home, it’s because you don’t want to!
You seemed helpless, sometimes lost. How did you perceive it?
I don't know if we were lost but what is certain is that we are not actors, nor alive. We don't experience the match, it passes and we are not there, not on the pitch. We don't take initiatives and if someone takes one, there is no one behind and we take a turnover to finish 70 meters behind.
What reaction should there be?
It's annoying, we were humiliated so I hope that individually we will all question ourselves one by one. Because we all have enormous room for improvement and we are not at our level. We need to take Sunday to understand what is wrong and from Monday work collectively to be efficient. Because we host Lyon (Saturday at 4:30 p.m., Editor's note) so… I think we have no other choice but to win next weekend.
Are you afraid that this defeat will be difficult to digest?
It's hard to take but I hope it will serve us more than it will leave a mark. It's up to us to use it to take the anger we have and carry it forward to the next match. All meetings are important but this one is even more important. After a disappointment like this, we are going to be at the Hamlet facing our supporters. And honestly, if we do that again, we have to stop rugby: you go home, it’s because you don’t want to! So I hope we will have… No, we will have a different face next Saturday!
