2023-05-07 08:17:40
He launched and closed the offensive festival of the second period, six tries in just over 30 minutes to load the boat well and correct Bayonne (55-14). A double for Gaël Fickou in the image of the character: not necessarily impressive, but very effective. A double because “it was important to show the way today”, as he underlined after the match at the microphone of Canal +.
Two weeks after a defeat in Perpignan where he had already scored (30-21). Less than a month after a victory on the wire over Bordeaux-Bègles (31-28), where again, the three-quarter international center had spun in the in-goal for the test of hope.
Three Top 14 matches played in full armband to arm since his return from the Tournament, four tries and a clearly assumed and claimed leadership role in this team that the player, vice-captain of the XV of France, joined two years ago. years via a hasty and controversial transfer from neighbors Stade Français. The former Toulousain is now clearly at home in the Hauts-de-Seine, where he poses as the boss of a slightly crazy and irregular team.
“He speaks well”
“He is a natural leader, blows the third row Baptiste Chouzenoux. He is someone who has a lot of experience, who talks a lot. But we also follow him for his performances. “He is a very intelligent player. He speaks well, everyone listens to him on the pitch, ”praises his opening half, the Scottish Finn Russell.
At 29, the young man who grew up in a difficult district of La Seyne-sur-Mer in the Var enjoys a special status at Plessis-Robinson. Outside the field, where his notoriety allows him to release an autobiography and to be one of the two club players followed by Netflix cameras as part of a series on the Six Nations Tournament. On the lawn, where his coach Laurent Travers almost never takes him out of the lawn when he has the player at his disposal outside international windows. Out of eleven starts with Racing, Fickou played the entire match ten times.
“You all know his qualities as a player, but he is also more and more involved as a captain, notes his manager. He has this desire to win. I hope he will be able to pass it on to as many people as possible. »
Despite a dislocated finger, he wanted to finish the match against Bordeaux on the lawn, after having gathered his troops to re-motivate them. Facing Bayonne, Fickou had less to give of himself in what he describes as “an important victory”, because it will allow his team to be among the virtual play-offs two days from the end.
“We must not get carried away”, warns the person concerned, a week before receiving Toulon in a shock relocated to Le Havre because of two concerts by Bruce Springsteen at Paris La Défense Arena. The boss knows his men well.
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