Champions Cup – Saracens-Castres: “He was a substitute all his career but he won four titles”, the original source of inspiration for Adrien Séguret

Jonny Wilkinson, Dan Carter, Richie McCaw… These are some names that regularly come up when rugby players are asked about their sources of inspiration. At the moment, Adrien Séguret is instead turning his gaze towards a former basketball player. “Do you know Manu Ginobili, he asked. He was a substitute his entire career but he won four titles (in the NBA, with the San Antonio Spurs, editor’s note).” Why then take an example from this athlete, especially since he practiced a different discipline? “I’m a sports fanatic. I watch everything. I like to draw inspiration from several athletes and this year, I tried to compare my contribution and my role with other athletes, and Ginobili is the one who jumped out at me because he managed to be seen and be a star by being the sixth man. It’s a super positive example,” argues the Tarn center, who even posted a photo of the Argentine basketball player in. his locker.

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If Adrien Séguret has come to reveal his admiration for Manu Ginobili, it is to justify the importance of the mission of a replacement, very different from that of the incumbent. “It changes everything. We don’t realize it but it’s very difficult. We often have two or three actions, and if you miss them, it can have consequences on your team and quickly make you lose confidence, explains the 26-year-old Olympian The most difficult thing is to accept your role, to take it with as much enthusiasm as possible. You have to have the same concentration as when you start. But that’s what’s complicated because you’re passing. 60 minutes on the bench.”

First tenure in over a month

Adrien Séguret knows what he is talking about. His last appearance in the starting XV dates back to December 7 and a trip to Northampton (8-38) during the 1^re Champions Cup day. Since then, he has put on the substitute’s chasuble four times before making his seventh start this season. Obviously, like any competitor, the former Grenoblois found the time long. “I tried to live this period as best as possible. That’s what rugby is. In recent weeks, my role has often been to be a substitute. I tried to make the most of it and to make good starts. I think that was the case this weekend, I have the chance to start. It’s up to me to perform and have a big match”, maintains the one who will be. captain this Sunday afternoon against Saracens.

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A sign of the confidence the Tarn staff have in him. Despite a decrease in playing time in recent weeks, Séguret has always shown exemplary behavior according to his new manager. “I always found him focused on each training session, appreciates Xavier Sadourny. When he had to come into play, he did it efficiently. There is competition in this position. He had a lot of time to game at the start of the season. Other players are playing more at the moment. It is the states of form, the associations, the organizations which mean that the coach must make choices. The more complicated the players will be, the better it will be. the team. Today it starts. being so is a good sign.”