Author of a decisive kicking game for Jiuta Wainiqolo on Saturday against Lyon (21-10), Paolo Garbisi tried to liven up for 40 minutes, before being confined to a defensive role throughout the second half.
Not a problem for the Italian opener. “Defense is fine. It's not something that worries me. I like it and I'm very confident… so no worries”he laughs.
The RCT's game, the difficulties in animation, his kick for his winger, his perfectionist side and the first assessment after nine matches… Paolo Garbisi draws up a clear, clear observation. Without hiding, as usual.
In the pre-match press conference, you were quite harsh about your start to the season. Against Lyon, you took your responsibilities. Satisfied?
(He smiles) No… I tell myself that there is still work to be done. Especially in animation. We create opportunities, but we are not very good at exploiting them. It's a shame. We still have to work a lot, as a team, to find better organization in attack, manage to find the lanes and give ourselves some breathing space.
How to explain these difficulties?
I find that three-quarters of us are often too spread out. We're not always all together. But that also comes from me, as number 10. From my communication. I have to try to get everyone on the same page. And with that, I'm not very happy with myself.
However, in the first half at least, you tried, much more than until now, to move the ball…
It got better, yes. But it is one of my qualities as well as one of my faults. I'm always a little too negative (smile). On this match, I must also thank Mathieu [Smaïli] and Antoine [Frisch]. They did a great job helping me communicate. They are two ball players and it is easier to play with profiles like them. So yes, we still have trouble getting together but as soon as we get there, it works.
Your initiative on Jiuta Wainiqolo's 80m try is decisive. What is going through your mind when you play this penalty quickly? Did you target the Lyon replacement on video?
We didn't see anything on video about that, but we want to be an unpredictable team. And for that, we must remain vigilant of all opportunities. Often in situations like this, the teams are already ready because we are going to go into touch. Because we do the same thing all the time! Try this, you rarely do it. Only once per match… and sometimes not even. There, I saw that there were all the forwards on the same side, so I tried. And frankly, Jiuta [Wainiqolo] going three thousand an hour, so you might as well give him the ball (laughs)!
How do you make the decision? Is there a staring game with your wingman?
As soon as there is a penalty, I try first and foremost to recover the ball quickly. Without the ball, I can't do anything. Afterwards, I see if there is space and, above all, if the winger is looking at me. If he looks at me and I feel like he's OK, I'll go for it. Otherwise, we go into touch. It happens maybe once in fifteen but when there is an opportunity, you have to take it.
At this point, you only lead 14-10 and are fifteen meters from your line. It's a bold move. Proof that the trust was there, right?
(He laughs) Yes… In fact, this season, it could have happened to me that I didn't attempt any shots. I told myself that I didn't want to have any more regrets by saying to myself: “Paolo you could have tried this, or that”. Afterwards, if the next time I do it there is an interception and a try, I will definitely want to hide (smile). But if you start telling yourself, “Next time I'll do it, next time I'll do it,” you just lose confidence and you never try anything.
Pierre Mignoni was able to say that you must succeed in “relaxing” yourself. How to do it?
It's difficult because when you try to be perfect, knowing you never will be, you don't accept mistakes. And in order not to fail, you find yourself daring less, trying less. You stay in the classic system. But sometimes you have to do things that are decisive. So I try.
You are coming off a 21-10 victory against Lyon. How do you see this success? Four points won? A point left on the way?
I think that honestly, it's four points won. We took away the right to think about the bonus with the first ten minutes of the second half. Because we started out the opposite of what we told ourselves. We knew it was going to be a key moment. If Lyon scored straight away, they were going to bother us the whole match. And in the end, that was it.
If for your part, you return to the selection with Italy, the Top 14 takes a break. What assessment do you make of the truce?
Knowing that we have traveled five times, I think that if you are in the four, from an accounting point of view it is good. But honestly, we have bigger concerns than what the rankings say. He's better than what we showed as a team. The ranking is even rather flattering. I'm waiting for more. And I think that with the team and the players we have, we can definitely do better.
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