2023-06-10 21:28:44
Antoine Hastoy, the international opener of Stade Rochelais. PAUL ELLIS / AFP
Crowned European champion in his first season at Stade Rochelais, the international opener will play his first Top 14 final next Saturday. With the desire to lift the Brennus.
Special Envoy to San Sebastian
You made a big start to the match by putting the UBB under pressure…
Antoine Hastoy : We were able to be effective and play at home. We had to adapt to the heat, honestly it was heavy, the ball was wet. But we were able to occupy the field and be effective with the decisions to go into touch. It paid off.
In the second half, however, you were disturbed by their game of dispossession. Was it more complicated?
Yes, we may have wanted to be too greedy at times, to throw a few balls back. The main thing is that we are qualified for this final. That was the goal. We haven’t had a very easy week so we’re very happy with the result. We will present ourselves against Toulouse wanting to win and achieve this historic double.
How has your week been complicated?
It wasn’t the best week of training we’ve had. But we will leave and recover well. To have a week of much better quality.
You fished physically in the second half…
It was because of the heat, like all week. We paid him. And then, it had been three weeks since we had played. It’s good that we had this character to hold on. (…) We knew he was going to come back very strong. We had to press the knife that was already under the throat. But we failed to do so. It was necessary to temper a little, to manage better. And in the end, we held up well under the onslaught.
You have to hang on for a week to achieve something extraordinary.
Antoine Hastoy
Toulouse-La Rochelle is the final that everyone was waiting for. You too ?
We just wanted to qualify. Afterwards, it may have been your dream final, but for us, the objective is to win and do the double.
The Toulousains repeated that they wanted to meet you in the final…
Good, it’s done. (Smile)
After winning the Champions Cup, you are in the final of the Top 14 for your first season in La Rochelle. What does this represent?
This is an exceptional first season in terms of results. But we have to confirm, it’s not over. You have to hang on for a week to achieve something extraordinary. We have to make the effort and then we will see later.
It’s Toulouse’s game to make us look like the big favorites
Antoine Hastoy
Will this be your first at the Stade de France?
First game, yes. Excited to be there, to play. These are firsts everywhere for me this year. I hope she will be as smiling as the first. I had been in the stands with the Blues, but it’s not the same… (Smile)
You were announced as the favorites before this semi-final. Was it a good thing to have a complicated match before the final against Toulouse?
It’s Toulouse’s game to make us look like the big favourites. They like to dress like that. But we are not going to get into that game. These are finals matches, it’s 50/50. As against the UBB. We are therefore going to prepare for a very tough final. We weren’t going to get carried away in any case, but there will be things to work on.
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