It is as if he had received us in his apartment, up there, on the 50th floor of his tower in the Financial District. Armed with his phone, Mathieu Bastareaud even made us enjoy the impressive view he has enjoyed since his arrival in New York on the Brooklyn Bridge and the East River. But his American dream came to an end because of the coronavirus epidemic.
Three months after setting foot in the United States for the first time in his life, the future LOU center, 31, confided in the frustrations he will abandon in the States. Between the impressive thunderbolts of the New York sky and the tears of his son Lymah, he told us that he was only in a hurry: "Get on the plane and find Luffy", his dog who l is waiting in the country.
How are you on the other side of the Atlantic?
MATHIEU BASTAREAUD. Everything is fine. We have been confined for more than a month now since we have followed the French directives which are roughly a week ahead of the American ones. The only people we meet are the people in the building when we go down to wash our clothes or pick up a package. Otherwise, we have no contact with the outside. We don't go out, we have all our groceries delivered… At first, it was a pain, we had to camp in front of the computer to have delivery slots. With the little one, we couldn't afford to miss, especially at the diaper level. We were lucky, we lack nothing.
From Paris, one has the impression that New York is in a dramatic situation…
This psychosis, I do not feel it. In my building, people are now masked and are paying more and more attention. But, from my window, I have the impression that many do not respect confinement. I saw a sports field and a park and, when the weather is nice, there are people. No matter how much we decide, if people don't respect anything, we will always be at an impasse.
Do you remain confined by civility or by fear of the virus?
I didn't want to take the risk of contaminating my partner or my son. At first, I told myself that I would run, but the risk was too great. We are abroad, in a country where the medical system is complicated. I couldn't see myself taking the risk of catching something and taking it home. It would have been terrible.
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Is this period even more complicated for a young dad?
It's strange. On the one hand, this confinement is positive because if the season had been maintained, I would have missed magic moments with my son. There, I could see him evolve, walk on all fours, stand up, take his first steps ... I was afraid of missing this and feeling guilty. And, on the other hand, it's scary! We wonder what may happen next. I will not always be there for him. At ten months, he doesn't know what's going on. When with his innocent eyes, he sees me putting on gloves and a mask, he doesn't understand… But, when I take down the trash, I'm always afraid of meeting someone and bringing the virus home. It's a little scary.
How do you spend your days?
I start by cycling between 30 and 60 minutes depending on my son's awakening. I take care of the bottle, I play a little with him, we have breakfast and, at 10 am, I do a cardio session and training. I place another one at 4 p.m. I do this in the apartment or on the stairs, between the 30th and the 50th floor. The problem with the stairs is that it puts your knees in compote and it's a bit repetitive. I'm a bit like a swimmer counting the tiles at the bottom of the pool (laughs), even if, in reality, I like the routine. What makes me feel bad is not being able to take advantage of the weather. So when the sun is shining, I open the window, put my head outside and enjoy as much as I can.
How long have you not been out?
It must have been 38 days. There, it really begins to get long, I know every square inch of my apartment ... Fortunately, we started to pack boxes and suitcases to return. The countdown begins.
Your New York experience will therefore have ended short ...
Yes, but I believe in fate is that it should not be done. I am disappointed and frustrated because I would have liked to live the experience to the full. But the safety of the players or the public not being assured, we could not continue. We spent our time in airports, the risks of contamination were too great.
What will you keep from this experience?
It is difficult to take stock over such a short time. I had the chance to discover New York, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, one of a kind. But, rugby level, it's one of the most complicated experiences of my career. I will not necessarily keep a good memory of it. If it had to be done again, not sure that I would do it again. Even if I suspected that it would not be square like the Top 14, I expected a minimum in terms of organization. It took me a while to digest the huge difference. It is all the more frustrating that everything stopped when I started to feel good.
Are you going to stir to leave?
I especially can't wait to go home. Me, I'm a bit of a bear, the countries I visited, it was thanks to rugby, otherwise I find it perfect to stay at home. In France, it will be less complicated to take news of the family. Sometimes I forgot that there was a jet lag, I sometimes called in the middle of the night. There, we will be at home, at home, we will find our landmarks, the information of our country. Because in the United States ... Trump is making statements, the governor is making others, the mayor is making his own ... it's a bit complicated to navigate.
Back in France, you could even finish a season in which you should no longer participate…
Yes, it's an American film script, with lots of twists and turns. I hope there will be a happy ending. But it is true that it is quite bizarre… For the moment, everyone is knotting his brain while no one knows anything. I understand that it is necessary to anticipate. But we are dependent on the development of things until May 11. What I do know is that I'm happy to come back and be able to play rugby in Lyon again.
Can this comeback arouse cravings for a blue jersey?
Oh no. There, I am vaccinated, I have given enough I think.
Do you believe in a recovery this season?
It seems extremely complicated to me. But we will have to make a decision quickly, we cannot keep everyone in suspense forever. The losses are such that it is normal to try to limit the damage. But, the clubs, the championship, the players, we will all be impacted. We must make sure that we get out of it as dignified as possible, not by preaching to each for his own interests.
As such, do you understand that some of the footballers in France seem reluctant to lower wages?
Negotiations, I think there are also with the players of the Top 14. I do not know what is happening in football. But the guys are not selfish or stupid to the point of not wanting to help. Do we really have all the elements? It's easy to hit footballers for their wages. I understand that it is shocking to hear that guys who touch X millions do not want to lower their remuneration. But I also hear the sportsman who wonders why we always tax him more than the others. I do not know enough about the case to have a firm opinion. On the other hand, I know that we must be united and participate in the effort because we will not do it alone. But it should not be done haphazardly.
Do you participate in solidarity actions yourself?
Of course, I participate in my own way. But I don't talk about these things, otherwise it becomes com '. The gesture, even a noble one, must not pass above the cause that one defends.
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