Returning from the Italian selection after having played little during the break (27 minutes), right pillar Pietro Ceccarelli is excited at the idea of returning to the field and expects a big fight, particularly up front, against Toulon, this Saturday ( 9:05 p.m.), in Aimé-Giral.
It’s the kind of match we like to play, on a Saturday evening (9:05 p.m.), against a big opponent…
Yes, it's a match where we arrive after having had a good week. It's going to be a great game. Really the kind of fun match to play, it's true. We're looking forward to it.
How do you analyze this RC Toulon?
It's a very big team. I think they will arrive with a lot of confidence after having done a lot of preparation and had a big match against Bayonne (39-19 victory). Afterwards, we play at home, so it's up to us to show the true face of USAP.
The fact that it's at home, with such a poster, does that make this match even more special to play?
I think in this Top 14, every match is a final, so every match is special to play. Afterwards, it's true that here we have the sixteenth man. And on Saturday, he will carry us. If we play well, if we show what we are capable of, I think he will help us, he will carry us. The supporters were present at all the matches we played at home. We really feel that we are being carried by this sixteenth man.
Do you expect a lot of fight ahead?
Yes, and there will be some. Toulon is not a team that passes a lot. This is a team that will come straight to face us. They have a very strong and very efficient conquest. We prepared all week to face this. I think it's going to be a tough match.
I come back with great desire. I can't wait to play.
This is not anecdotal, there is a very young player, Gabin Kretchamann (18 years old), who risks joining the group. When we play up front, we imagine that you want to protect him as much as possible?
I think we'll have something more to give for him. It's up to us, the 14 others on the pitch and even the 22 others on the scoresheet, to protect him and be behind him on every decision he makes.
What is your view on him?
He's a great player, a great young guy. He's very humble, I think he does a lot of work outside of training. We see that he is prepared. It's all positive.
Does having a lot of injured people, a lot of players returning or going to the infirmary, strengthen the bonds in the group?
Yes, surely. I think we know that in this championship, everyone has to be ready. We have a very united workforce. It's a very good group. It's nice when we see that we can work with everyone. But it's part of the sport, it's part of the game. We're sad when there are guys who get injured. We are happy when they come back. We're also going to play for these guys in difficulty. It's the little things that sometimes make the difference, and in our group, we are really very united.
We need it at the moment with all these injuries…
Yes, but I repeat, it's part of the game. If we look at all the Top 14 teams have their injuries. These are periods that are like that. As soon as they come back, I know they will be ready. We look forward to them.
Personally, are you even more motivated after these weeks with the Italian selection where you played little (only 27 minutes played against Georgia)?
I haven't played a lot, it's true. So I come back with a lot of desire. I want to step onto the lawn. It was hard to be a little aside. Afterwards, I work at the international level and it is always positive. But, now I can't wait to play.
