“When you see a profile like that, you want him to knock out everyone, right away. » But clothes don't make a monk just as stature doesn't make a rugby player. Despite appearances, Jimi Maximin (25 years old) was not quite shaped, seasoned, for what his generous double meter (2.05 m) and his 133 kg predisposed him to.
It will therefore have been necessary to go through the National box, with neighboring Tarbais, then through the Pro D2, in Rouen: according to its successive loans, the Palois since 2020 has perfected a late bloom. Outbreak, “not explosion”. For Thomas Choveau, nuance makes all the difference. “It didn’t explode. He is exposed. Exploser was Gailleton two years ago, it was Attissogbe last year. When it explodes, you'll know it. He will then exploit your full potential. »
“He doesn’t necessarily have the state of mind of his physique. At times, he needs to impose his harshness, which is not always innate to him.”
Beyond these semantic considerations, the Béarnais coach perhaps indirectly instructs Maximin not to fall back into the mistakes that hindered him. “He doesn’t necessarily have the state of mind of his physique. At times, he needs to impose his harshness, which is not always innate to him. »
Providential bearer
Not always easy to hear, even if the second line passed through Montpellier admits it. “Seb (Piqueronies) and the coaches have always been clear about the work to be done, the points to improve. I needed a trigger to move forward, to be meaner on the pitch, to have this desire to struggle when I'm held down, to gain meters. I have improved in terms of ball carry. But over the course of the loans, this transformation was more mental than physical. »
Failing to find a place in the sun, Jimi Maximin ended up stepping into the spotlight (five starts since October 26), in turn benefiting from injuries (Picquette, Capelli) having slowed down his early career so much. Enough to fill the void of wide-body aircraft which the Section was so lacking in. “A responsibility that I share with Beka (Gorgadze), develops number 5. I have always been sought after as such. »
The rare bird
Firstly because its size does not run the streets, nor even the Top 14 fields. Enough to arouse envy, already. According to our colleagues at Actu rugby Lyon, Toulon or Clermont are on the case. “You have to pay attention to everything that is written,” says his coach. Even if these are highly sought-after profiles. When you put this kind of player on the pitch, it quickly captures attention. It is largely linked to the profile and the status: a colossus who is jiff, that arouses. »
But Maximin does not “get fired up”. Not even after the appreciable parallel established by Denis Charvet a little over two years ago, following the first appearance of the Palois with the Barbarians. “This nickname of little Skelton rather makes me laugh. It's good to be compared to him, even if I prefer to be the great Maximin. » His coach agrees: “When he explodes, you will stop calling him that. We don't talk too much about Skelton in Meafou anymore. »
In any case, Jimi Maximin is not there. “What he lacks, a bit like us, is to be tougher, more decisive,” insists Choveau. He must gain some form of consistency, too. Against Lyon, it was at home, but as soon as it's away, what do we do? From the moment he shows this consistency and this toughness in the effort, it will help us a lot. And one more level will be reached. »
Growth at a steady pace, favoring the emergence of a valuable profile, a rare bird that the Section would do well not to let fly away between now and the end of its contract in June 2025.
