Author of the penalty which gave the Maritimes a narrow victory against the Racingmen (16-17), the scrum half retains the state of mind displayed by his team in Créteil.
Special envoy to Créteil
What feeling dominates after this success snatched against Racing 92 ?
Teddy Iriba’s: It was a match that was rather complicated, with a favorable outcome. It was laborious, yes and no. In the first 40 minutes, we put our game in place, we were good, we hurt them. I have the impression that we really dominated this first period, but we couldn’t make it happen. Afterwards we made a second half agreement which is not very good. So, we mess up a little bit until the end and finally, we manage to come back in the last ten minutes. It’s a bit unexpected, but given the match, I think we deserve to win. There are two essays that come down to nothing, just details. Last weekend (victory against Pau 49-25, Editor’s note)we knew how to be killers, this weekend, a little less. But we still showed character. We were keen to do something away, because last year, we had a season which was a bit disastrous away. So we really wanted to get points and, this afternoon, we are going to remember only the victory and the four points, because it is very important for us, morally and in accounting terms.
The end of the match was full of twists and turns. You miss the transformation then pass the penalty of winning…
Transformation, I’m typing it wrong. I was convinced that we were going to have one more chance. The forwards did another big job. So, we have this penalty which is still rather easy. Although it’s important, I try to type it the same way and I’m lucky it fits. I work for this all week and all year, so it pays off, but it’s not me who is worthy of this victory today.
This match, if we lose it, it’s not the end of the world. It’s still a game
It was against your former club, did you manage to clear your mind?
Like I say, we train all week and all year. Over the years, I manage to take the penalties, to clear my head. Whether they are for the win or whether they are at the start of the match, I try to hit them in the same way, with the same routine, with the same approach. This match, if we lose it, it’s not the end of the world. It’s still a game, even if there are economic issues behind it, but it’s rugby, it’s fun. I do my job, it’s what I love. I try to have as much fun as possible and that’s what I did today.
Also readRacing 92-La Rochelle: the favorites and favorites of our special correspondent
There was a lot of waste in your game against Racing…
Yes, it’s true and the weather was nice. The weather was nice. We still, despite everything, tried to send some play. I find that behind it, we manage to have a game which is still coherent. Afterwards, hand mistakes are just details to be sorted out, just small individual errors. Today, everyone made their little mistake. But I think it bodes well for the future, because we are able to play better at the back. We have forwards who are ultra-powerful. So, it’s not to make them run around all afternoon. They are still better when we make mauls.
I think this is the longest sequence I have done since I was in La Rochelle
Last year, you only won one away match during the regular season. Can this success free you for the future?
We hope so. Mentally, at least, it’s a good thing to do. Home games are easy to play. We have an incredible audience, we have a fantastic atmosphere. We are obviously very motivated when we go outside. We need to re-mobilize because it’s complicated from time to time, like last year. There, we wanted to be more killer, like Toulouse.
How do you view the last five minutes? You managed to get your hands on the ball and never let it go…
I think it’s the longest sequence I’ve done since I’ve been in La Rochelle. We were at their place, in their 22 meters, we had to play ball. We have a system in place today, where we try to increase the volume of play. We had doubts about our ability to do so. Today, we demonstrated it. We train for that. Rugby today is taking a different turn. The volume of play takes precedence over the dispossession that there was a few years ago. And it’s pleasant for the spectators, for the players, for everyone. In any case, we have fun in sequences like that.
What do you think of Nolann Le Garrec, whom you knew at Racing?
I was lucky to see him emerge, since when I was in my prime at Racing, he was the one who sidelined me, to be polite (smile). It’s a story of cycles. Nolan is a player who is reaching full maturity, and who is very important in a team. We see the team when Nolann is there and when he is not there. He joins us. Personally, I am very happy. He’s someone I really like. Afterwards, there is Tawera Kerr-Barlow who will leave us. We must not forget that we are replacing a great player with another great player. I am very happy, whether with Tawera today or with Nolann tomorrow.
