#RugbyPro #Final #scrum #break #retro #mythical #front #row
Why did you go from the first division with Grenoble to the fourth with Stade Montois in 1996?
Eric Michael: “For the money obviously (laughs). »
Felipe Tapie: “It’s the fault of Franck Capdeville (originally from Auch), who signed here first. Patrick Nadal, then president of the Stade Montois, wanted to put together a new group, with thirtysomethings, to go up. And the club had some scrum problems. I also wanted to get closer to my region (he was born in Vic-en-Bigorre, Hautes-Pyrénées, editor’s note) and I had to sign for Biarritz Olympique. Franck called me and I signed here. They had found me a job in the city. We put aside rugby for a bit and I never thought I would play in the first division again. »
MS: “And then Philippe also called me because I was leaving Grenoble! And I called Olivier Toulouse. We had similarities and he convinced me, especially because he wanted to get closer to my children who were in Bordeaux. These were not easy decisions and we also had to find work. I, had occupied the Bistrot Saint-Roch, before passing the National Education competitions (now he is a chef at the Lycée Louis-Darmanté in Capbreton, read more below). »
PT “There are players that we knew because we had already met before in Grenoble – Stade Montois. I remember a game in which I stepped on Yannick Agrech, obviously because of clumsiness, and I broke the fifth metatarsal of one of my toes. »
Laurent Dehez: “He wanted to scare us but it didn’t work!” It is true that we had not advanced in the scrum, but at least we had won the match! »
Éric Michaud, Laurent Dehez and Philippe Tapié formed a scoop that martyred many opponents.
Thibault Toulemonde
“I’m penalized and I say to the referee: ‘But if I go into the scrum, I’m going to break it!'”
The change had to be drastic and you had to overwhelm your opponents…
PT: “That period, these are just good memories, we had a wonderful time. The change was radical, that’s for sure. We went from training every day to just twice a week. Sometimes there were also the changing rooms, which were attached to the club bar, and where we stopped (laughs). And then we also went from the Béziers swimming pool to changing rooms without hot water! »
MS: “The first year was the most difficult because we were not allowed to miss each other. We absolutely had to go up, they were expecting us, and we breathed a huge sigh of relief at the end of the season. We sure made a good scrum and our opponents weren’t at the party. On that side, it was quite easy the first few seasons. But sometimes we fell against the farmers, who were very solid! »
PT: “We played a lot of games in the rain, with the wind, etc. And that muddy pitch at Mugron… I remember Hagetmau was second because they were playing our opponents a week after us, whereas we had ‘damaged’ them the weekend before. Then, by facing them, we showed them who was the leader (laughs). »
“I remember a match in Linxe, in a scrum, I tell myself that I risk lapping my young opponent, so I go slowly. And there, the referee gives me a penalty! “You don’t go into close combat.” So, I say to the referee: “But if I go into the scrum, I will break it!” He was a young player who had never played that position. »
Philippe Tapié warmed up with the crowd during a derby between Dax and Stade Montois on August 14, 1999.
Philippe Salvat Archives
“In the final, I even did a 40m breakthrough, which I have never done again in my career! »
The first season ends with promotion, the second with a title in Group B (3rd division)…
PT: “There was a moment in this second season, in the second part of the championship, when we were a little less good. We had decided, every Thursday night, a day when we did not have training, to institute the meal for the greats, only for the forwards. Although about three-quarters weren’t entirely skinny either. Thanks to Mr. Bru, who was one of the club leaders, we were able to go to a “Mammoth” hypermarket and shop almost for free. To buy grated carrots and sparkling water, of course (laughs). Well, we also had a 5 liter drum of genepi and we had a good evening. And suddenly, we finished this season well. »
MS: “In this final against Villefranche-de-Lauragais there was no photo (45-3, in Tarbes). I had even made a 40 meter breakthrough, which I never did again in my career! Unfortunately, I had been tackled five meters from the line, but there was an attempt behind. »
“A boy shows me an essay he had done on me. He marked himself: “A very aggressive player, bordering on violent! “He made me smile”
LD : “I was present at the final and it was this action that made me sign for Mont-de-Marsan! I told myself: “They are capable of all these forwards, it will be even easier for me (laughs).” Well, it’s true, it was also a family choice and a return to basics (it had later been transferred to his company, Véolia, editor’s note). On the other hand, he had not seen Philippe in this final…
PT: “I was suspended for nonsense in the semifinals. But I still made the trip hoping to be requalified. And luckily, because Eric had forgotten his shoes! I had to lend him my shoes. »
MS: “He was suspended very often! »
PT: “One day, after a meeting, a boy comes to see me in the field and shows me an essay he had done on me, he had had 17/20. He loved rugby and he told me: “This is for you”. He was surprised and happy, I read his sheet, it was marked: “Very aggressive player, borderline violent!” He made me smile. »
Éric Michaud had been champion of France with Bégles-Bordeaux in 1991.
Pascal Bats Archives/ “Southwest”
“In 1999, the final, we won it from the start. At kick-off, they are penalized. We all went straight, it was bowling”
New French champion title in 1999, in Elite 2, against Montauban…
LD: “We were few players to arrive, there was already a very good base and a lot of cohesion, under the orders of Jean-Bernard Duplantier. We are having an excellent season, we are dominating, and then in the semi-final against Montpellier, we are not there, we are down 0-13. Franck and I go home and win (42-13). He made all the difference (laughs). »
PT: “We won the final from the beginning. At kick-off, they are penalized. We all went straight, it was bowling. Also, there were many games that we won in the locker room (smiles). It was great this period, we revived the hearts of the fans, who followed us everywhere. I remember in the final stages they would have barbecues in the parking lots before our meetings. The elders still tell us about it today. »
Laurent Dehez, released on shoulders, during his last game with Stade Montois, in 2008.
“Southwest” Archives
“Walter Cristofoletto gives me a gourd to drink, all yellow. And there, after the game, doping control draw, on day 2! I was so scared”
What is the anecdote that you have never told?
MS: “I remember a meeting, we were going to play in Tours, and there was a call from Racing to tell us not to lose this match. This allowed them to play the final stages. Obviously we win and receive a free blazer. »
LD: “During a match in Racing, our Italian second row, Walter Cristofoletto, gives me a bottle of water, all yellow. “Frutozio” he tells me. I drink here and there, after the game, draw for doping control, on the 2nd! It wasn’t right, I was scared, I didn’t know what was inside… Fortunately it passed, it was a big sigh of relief. It really had to be fruit. »
PT: “Me, it’s a match in August in Dax (in 1999), at the beginning of the holidays, at the Challenge Yves-du-Manoir. We spent an hour talking about tactics and from the first minutes they gave us a red card. »
LD: “I bumped into a player! »
PT: “I think they are afraid of us. At the end of the meeting, I go out, the public boo me and there I make a gesture of not doing. I jumped on a fan… It ended badly, ruined their parties a bit and I was banned from the stadium. »