Like a fish in water. In just a few matches, Blair Kinghorn had completely adapted to the playing system at Stade Toulousain. Arriving at the end of autumn 2023 in Haute-Garonne, to digitally replace Melvyn Jaminet, the Scotsman is today in the good days of Ugo Mola and his staff.
This Sunday, December 15, the Toulouse player will play his 24th match with the Rouge et Noir, one year and six days after his debut. To celebrate its first year in the South-West of France, the podcast Rugby Pod show asked him for an interview. In the latter, he opens up about his teammates in Toulouse.
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While questions about Antoine Dupont are asked, Blair Kinghorn redirects the discussion to another player: Peato Mauvaka. “When I arrived, he surprised me. He’s one of the most technical players on the ball in the team, he’s so skillful”, he confides about the hooker.
Furthermore, Blair Kinghorn recounts the match in which he realized the player’s potentialduring the opening match of the 2023 World Cup. At that time, he did not know that they would be teammates a few months later:
I remember watching the World Cup and Julien Marchand got injured. Peato came on early in the match against New Zealand and began carving up the All Blacks. I was like, “Who is this guy? What’s going on?” Afterwards, I knew I was going to play with him. Quite simply, he’s crazy. He’s also a very funny and very talented guy.”
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Obviously very surprised by the technical quality of the first line, the Scotsman does not budge and praises the French international. “He’s probably one of the most skillful players I’ve ever seen in my life”, affirms the one who plays, for example, alongside a certain Finn Russell in the selection.
“When he has fun in training, before or after it, he always has a ball in his hands. He never drops a ball. Someone throws one to him and he catches it with one hand, he plays with it all the time. He has so many varied skills. He is simply awesome”, affirms Blair Kinghorn without hesitation.
Talisman of Stade Toulousain last season, Blair Kinghorn was a key player for the red and black team in the race for the double. Versatile, it quickly made its mark. Today, it remains to be seen what Peato Mauvaka thought of Blair Kinghorn when he arrived at the club and the circle will be closed.
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