What remains of the setback against Bayonne?
A lot of frustration because we created opportunities and didn't exploit them. And we take tests easily. We have the feeling of having already experienced it against Racing 92 or Bordeaux at home. We have a strong first half and then we crack. Against Rowing, it's worse, we have the match point. There is a feeling of unfinished business.
You seem more liberated outside than at home…
It's hard to say. I have the impression that we are perhaps more stressed, restricted in our game and tense at the idea of doing poorly and losing at home. Besides that, we won in La Rochelle. But it's hard to know. We just know that we are promoted and that we are going to experience difficult times during the season. We were aware from the start that we would have to fight and we are not surprised to be where we are. If we don't give up, we can achieve something. But this championship is a steamroller. You have to learn quickly and apply it.
A defeat in Pau could drop you to the bottom of the rankings. Is this a turning match?
Before winning in La Rochelle, we were 8 or 9 points behind 13th so I don't know if it's a see-saw match. We fight up front to put our game in place and when we see some of our performances, we say to ourselves that we can worry a lot of opponents. We want to try to compete with the Section. Outside, we are less tense about the obligation to achieve results. But in Paris, we were there for the first 20-25 minutes and that prevented us from winning…
The editorial team advises you
The editorial team advises you
The editorial team advises you
What emotions does your return to Béarn and the Hameau give you?
I hadn't checked it because I wasn't sure I would play. Obviously, it’s nice because I spent eight years there. It represents a slice of my life, a large part of my career. I'm happy to see my friends again. Even if I don't get news every two days, I have a lot of people in my heart and I think of them. I had some very good times, some epic performances in this club, some not so good ones too.
We're thinking about your departure last summer. Was it easy to digest?
It was hard because eight years is not trivial. My children were born in Pau, they are from Béarn, you can't take that away from me (laughs). No matter what happens in this job, you know you can move. And even if it's against your will, you have to accept it… But I'm very happy in Brittany, I have no regrets.
Which club did you discover in Vannes?
It's a treat because we don't ask any questions. It works well, there are great facilities and I'm happy to have been able to join a club that we didn't look at before. The Paloise Section is more structured because it has returned to the elite for ten years. But Vannes is growing very quickly, there are lots of great things for the future. And I'm happy with it because the Bretons are stubborn, narrow-minded and hard-working, like the Alsatians (laughs).
The editorial team advises you
The editorial team advises you
At 33, you seem to be experiencing a second youth…
I didn't arrive with my hands in my pockets, telling myself that I had X matches (209) or years (11) of Top 14 behind me. On the contrary, my experience pushed me to prove. I had done a good preparation before resuming training, I arrived discreetly and everything happened naturally to earn my place.
Do you have the feeling that your hardworking profile is more valued in Vannes?
I don't know if the looks are different. I never paid attention to that in my entire career. People don't take me for my qualities with the ball. I'm doing my job and if I like it, so much the better. I have two, three seasons left to play so I'm giving my best.
