This year, Tawera Kerr-Barlow didn’t have time to buy pretzels

toExiting the ‘Captain’s Race’ (training for the captain), this Friday, within the confines of the Aviva Stadium, pastries await the people of Rochelle after they spotted the floor of the legendary Dublin Stadium. But this is not a surprise, unlike the day before the 2022 final, at the Velodrome in Marseille. At the time, injured former All Blacks Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Victor Vito were taking over. The fact that they went into town to buy pastry bags particularly impressed their partners, with the gesture of these two executives who had just…

to Exiting the ‘Captain’s Race’ (training for the captain), this Friday, within the confines of the Aviva Stadium, pastries await the people of Rochelle after they spotted the floor of the legendary Dublin Stadium. But this is not a surprise, unlike the day before the 2022 final, at the Velodrome in Marseille. At the time, injured former All Blacks Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Victor Vito were taking over. The fact that they went into town to buy pastry bags particularly impressed their partners, nodded by these two executives who, all week long, had already laid out their personal issues long after the finalists’ issue.

“It’s something we kept, in fact, it was a good idea from Victor. We do that every game in the Champions Cup, a penalty that’s also added to the wheel (pledges, which in turn are penalized, editor’s note). Sometimes, we have things to eat. After the other preparations, in the championship (smile). I hope that this tradition will remain with the club in the coming seasons. There, we have already organized ourselves, and Oltan (Dylan) has relations in Ireland, and he will take care of them, “reveals” TKB “.

“ROG” trust

As for the setup itself, the former half-all-black player (28 caps), now 32 caps, and partner Vito’ offered a little bit of advice, but not much either. We weren’t like the coaches. We only gave small things. , and the men have been doing well for the most part.” This year, he is really among them, at the center of the discussions, though he has been coughing a lot, this Friday, during preparation. “I don’t think about the past, injuries are part of life as a rugby player. The only difference is that I’m available and I can’t wait to be in the game.”

“We’ll keep pace throughout the game, unless he’s injured…”

For his team, although Thomas Bergen had an impressive 2022 final, it’s a big difference, to be exact. This Monday, Ronan O’Gara left no doubt as to the role reserved for the Maori: “In the semi-finals, Toulouse gave Leinster a chance to play well by changing the position of the best player in the world (Antoine Dupont went opening after an injury to Pierre-Louis Brassey, editor’s note) , After it wasn’t the same match. We’re not going to do that, we’ll keep the pace throughout the match, unless he’s injured…”

“He’s special,” appreciates the New Zealander, whose manager often describes him as “the second best scrum-half in the world.” “ROG trusts me, my natural game as well as our system. We always feel free when that’s the case, I thank him for that. He gives me the right to play my best.” He also gave him, perhaps related, the right to go to his country for A month this winter, in the middle of the season, to see his family. Since then, Rochelais has been at the top of his game.

Not vengeful

“On the field, he will bring us all his experience, he is coming to this stage of the season with all his energy, his experience that is necessary to reassure, to make the right decisions,” assures Brice Doolin. “I think I’m playing at a good level at the moment, but the most important thing for me is that I’m doing my job for the team. When that happens, I’m happy,” says Tawera Kerr-Barlow. When all the players do their job, it gives us a better chance of winning the team. It is always more important than individuals, but we need them to work with the team.”

“The whole group is European champions, and we can only win 23 finalists”

This Saturday, then, his condition, without any spirit of vengeance against fate compared to Marseille, will be more concerned by the fact that Mathias mourning Victor, so precious in 2022, is this time – with Teddy Thomas – the only injured he has lamented. By Maritimes: “It’s a tough moment, he’s younger than me. I already missed All Blacks games with injuries and it made me really sad, so I was more prepared for this season than last season.” She is the European champion, and you can only win 23 finalists. Some players play a lot, others a little, but they all give something to the jersey. That’s my opinion.”

He’s calculating as much as he can influence the course of a match, even against “a team that has dominated all Champions Cup matches and who is very challenging”. Because ‘if he’s well-prepared, it allows you to play normally. There’s always a plan but for now, if you feel something off, of course you have to take advantage of it. It won’t be easy against another Kiwi expat, Jamison Gibson-Park, who has become one of the chiefs Leinster and Ireland.”I know him well, often played against him in New Zealand, but also with him in the Maori ranks. He’s a very good player, and it would be a pleasure to play him, “concludes” TKB “. I’m not sure that the opposite is true.