Six Nations Tournament: after his hat-trick against Italy, Gabin Villière's tribute to Jordan Michallet

There is a Christophe Dominici side to him.

A tough guy, fighter, angry, ready to put his head, hands or feet where many others would abstain.

A small size (1.80 m) explosive legs of fire, too.

The former winger of the Blues, who died a little over a year ago falling from a wall in the park of Saint-Cloud (Hauts-de-Seine) was also the idol of Gabin Villière when he was a kid.

Like Dominici, who made an impression with peroxidized hair during a feat in the semi-finals of the World Cup against the All Blacks in 1999, the 26-year-old Toulonnais revealed himself with his red helmet during the semi-final victory. -shade of the Blues against Italy on Sunday February 6 at the Stade de France (37-10).

Author of a hat-trick, the winger mounted on springs victoriously concluded two beautiful movements on his left wing, but he also split a magnificent framing-overflow on his second achievement (49th).

His activity did not stop there.

Untenable, it multiplied in all corners of the field, like an overexcited balloon hunter.

A temperament that made him make one or two mistakes.

"His performance is exceptional," said manager Raphaël Ibañez.

He is a finisher, he has demonstrated it.

But above all, what is characteristic of him is his warrior spirit, which is an example for his teammates.

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A season by his side in Rouen

The young man with an atypical profile says that he has always been like that, practicing, as a child, almost all combat sports, from boxing to karate.

A youth spent in Normandy, from Vire (Calvados) where he was born and put on his first rugby cleats, in Rouen (Seine-Maritime) where he hatched when no Top 14 club wanted him.

This is where he stood out, leading the Federal 1 club in Pro D 2 during the 2018-2019 season spent alongside fly-half Jordan Michallet, who killed himself on January 18. , jumping from a building under construction in the Norman city.

Gabin Villière, who had inscribed the letters “MICH” on the bandage of his left wrist, dedicated the victory to him on Twitter: “For you my Mich.

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For you my Mich ✨🤍 pic.twitter.com/8vSuXNqfR8

– Gabin Villière (@gabinvilliere) February 6, 2022

In an interview with the Midi Olympique, the winger with nine selections had evoked the trauma: “It was a blow.

I learned it over the phone.

It's very hard to accept.

We had a great season together.

I don't understand what happened, how he could have died in these conditions.

My friends still present at the club either.

He always had a smile, he looked good… It's a shock.

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The portrait of Jordan Michallet, who died on January 18, was broadcast during the ProD2 match of his Rouen club against Carcassonne on January 21.

Icon Sport/ Maxime Le Pihif

The year 2019 is also that of the hatching of Gabin Villière.

Selected by the France team at VII, he was named best player of the Hong Kong Tournament and joined Toulon in the Top 14. A few months later, Fabien Galthié called him and he put on his first jersey with the XV of France on the 28th. November 2020, during the Autumn Nations Cup… against Italy.

Beginnings in Blues marked by a planted try after a slalom in the opposing defense.

His punch had delighted the staff.

It will be more valuable than ever, Saturday February 12 at the Stade de France, to try to disrupt the beautiful Irish mechanics.