After the Couilloud brothers, the Top 14 will see a new fratricidal duel on Sunday between the Toulousain Julien Marchand (26 years old) and his brother Guillaume (23 years old), who left for Lyon "to grow up" and not "out of spite", assures us in an interview to AFP the hooker of the XV of France.
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Read alsoXV of France: the clubs grant 42 players to Fabien Galthié
Scrum-backs Baptiste and Barnabé Couilloud had a lot of room last week before, and even during, their first confrontation. Is this also the case with the Marchands between you and Guillaume?
Not at all.
We talked about it a bit, but nothing more.
We will already have to see if we start the match or if we end it.
There is a little apprehension, but we will let things happen naturally.
I think we will think about it on Saturday night (the day before the game) when we go to bed, but we are not going to ask ourselves 10,000 questions beforehand.
I watch them a little more now that my brother plays there and I can say that Lyon is a very big team.
Julien Marchand
Was Guillaume's departure for Lyon necessary to overcome your competition when you both play at the same hooker position?
He would have continued to play matches if he had stayed in Toulouse. There is no pre-established hierarchy here, the cards are more or less reshuffled in each match. It's more a personal choice, to grow and discover another club, with another vision. He didn't do it out of spite. He really wanted to go to Lyon.
Can the LOU, currently 3rd in the standings with the best attack, be the first team to bring down Toulouse this season?
I watch them a little more now that my brother plays there and I can say that they are a very big team. They are having a remarkable start to the season, never letting go. On our side, there are always adjustments to be found, full of small imperfections that we must try to erase over the matches.
Stade Toulousain does not seem entirely satisfied with its start to the championship, although it has so far achieved a clear round with six victories in as many days. Wouldn't that be choosy?
If we win like that all season, we will be fine!
But we won matches that we could very well have lost too and at one point, it won't work.
We must not remain on our gains.
We have to be more demanding and more precise, with more control.
In the absence of Charles Ollivon, injured, do you think you are part, as captain of Toulouse, potential candidates for the armband of the XV of France for the November tests?
I don't think about it at all personally.
I must already be called for the tour.
I sincerely think that no one is installed in the France team.
Lots of players showed great things on the summer tour
Julien Marchand
Do you really doubt it after having chained the tenures during the last Six Nations Tournament?
I sincerely think that no one is installed in the France team.
A lot of players showed great things on the summer tour (to Australia).
Of course, I hope to be on the list, but I prefer to wait until it is revealed to be sure.
If you were to be part of it, what does the prospect of facing New Zealand for the first time inspire you on November 20 at the Stade de France?
It's a team that makes you dream.
Which is a little apprehensive too.
It would be a player's honor against the All Blacks, a source of pride.
