2023-10-07 02:51:54
In the southern suburbs of Grenoble (Isère), the France-Italy match had a very special flavor last night since we find there, separated by only 8 km, the two clubs where the current nuggets of the two selections hatched. We are of course talking about Louis Bielle-Biarrey, licensed at Rugby Club Seyssins, from the age of 5 to 13. A little further away is the rival club of the Union Sportive des Deux Ponts Rugby, nursery of the Ange Capuozzo phenomenon, where people’s hearts waver between the love of the XV of France and their admiration for the child of the country.
In the Pont-de-Claix stadium where the Azzurri prodigy touched his first balls, a van parked on the pitch to deploy a giant screen facing the stands. “It’s the first time in the World Cup that we’ve done this, because it’s a somewhat special match for the people here, partly from Italian immigration,” smiles Pierre Eymeri, president of the club for 10 years. He waits for the start of the match next to the refreshment bar open for the occasion and which is overflowing with orders. The almost summer weather in the Alps provides perfect conditions for this small event.
“There must be between 200 and 300 people,” he estimates. Families came in droves after Friday night youth practice. The atmosphere is great. The ideal evening would be a victory for France with two tries from Ange in front! I trained him when he was little. His parents’ house is 300 m away. He’s a great guy, he often comes back to watch the club’s matches to sign autographs and encourage the youth teams. This Saturday, he will come after his match against France. Do you understand his state of mind? He is in sharing. »
“It’s normal that even the descendants of Italians are for France! »
While the Vercors overlooking the Deux Ponts stadium disappeared into the night, the anthem of the two teams was sung in the stands. When Ange Capuozzo’s face appears on the screen, “Come on Ange!” » burst into the audience. “I would love to play like him when I’m older!” », Hopes an admiring Antonin, who plays for the under-12s. He held his breath when Capuozzo found himself on the ground for a few seconds in the 29th minute. ” Oh no ! He has to come out,” exclaims the little rugby player. Ange Capuozzo is forced to leave the match, in order to follow the concussion protocol. “Obviously disappointed, especially for him,” regrets Marie Rousset, ex-player of the Deux Ponts Rugby women’s team. It spoils the evening a little because we would have liked him to weigh a little more in the game with his avoidance qualities, his flair. »
The first half progresses and the kids from the club quickly switched to “100% France” mode, as Téo says, also in U 12. It must be said that he and most of his friends have a jersey adorned with the red rooster on chest. ” Yeah ! One more try! », they shout during Penaud’s second try. For Alessandra, one of the mothers present in the stands, “it’s normal that even the descendants of Italians are for France! Our grandparents came from Italy to work in the Pont-de-Claix chemical factory, but for today’s children, it has become a distant past. And then France is stronger. It is from the side of the oldest that we admire Ange’s choice of wanting to keep the link with his roots. »
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