He is in one of his periods when he seems to fly on the synthetic turf of Racing 92. As in two of the three derbies against Stade Français, Teddy Thomas scored twice in the big victory (40-7) of the Ile-de-France club on Biarritz in the Top 14. In the wake of the match, the 28-year-old winger, who will leave the Racingmen at the end of the season to join La Rochelle, came to rest in front of the microphone in the press conference room.
Where with his soft voice, he took the time to indulge, especially on this 2022 Tournament where his body forced him to experience the Grand Slam of the XV of France from afar.
You score a new double which brings your total to six tries over the last four meetings.
How do you feel ?
TEDDY THOMAS.
Good.
I had a fairly mixed start to the season, with physical glitches.
There, I'm in a form that allows me to register tests thanks to the work of my teammates.
It's good, it must continue now.
On the second try, you drop everyone on the block to score...
I believed in it hard as iron as soon as I started running.
Afterwards, I try to take advantage of my opponent and that's it... It's a test with a little distance and a little couse, it's my business.
The muscles react well, so much the better.
Teddy 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚑 Thomas #RacingFamily #R92BO pic.twitter.com/pyK5iMHw3y
— Racing 92 (@racing92) April 23, 2022
Yoan Tanga came before you at a press conference, saying he wanted to win a title before leaving the club.
Are you in the same state of mind?
Obviously.
I want to leave Racing with a title, I've been here for eight years.
Unfortunately, I did not have a title, even though I was part of the final at Camp Nou (Editor's note: in 2016).
I had a white season with injuries so I do not allow myself to say that I have a title.
We are a lot of players to leave Racing, I think there will be a before and an after.
We are all committed to winning something, whether it's the European Cup or the Top 14. We give 200% to be able to leave this club with our heads held high and make it proud
Have you had discussions with the staff of the XV of France since the Six Nations Tournament?
Yes, after the Grand Slam.
They called me, and they told me that they continued to count on me and that I was among the people who made it possible to achieve the Grand Slam.
It's comforting to say that we are part of a group even when we are injured (Editor's note: he has not played with the Blues since the tour in Australia in July).
Makes me want to find them...
How did you experience this title won by your selection partners?
To be honest, it was pretty tough.
I had a relapse and I injured myself before the trip to Wales where I was supposed to be part of the squad, although I don't know if I would have played or not.
I went to ask the Racing staff if I could leave to put rugby aside for a while.
The week before the last match against England, I was not in France.
I watched the game, and I was happy for my friends who were playing and their investment, but also sad.
Then I returned to France on Sunday, and they called me.
I found them in a bar in Paris, and the smile returned to my lips.
You have never played in a World Cup, participating in the next one is necessarily a goal...
I missed two World Cups (Editor's note: in 2015 and 2019), I hope I can do the one in 2023. Now, there are quite a few deadlines before that and there is a lot of competition, I am not going to say that I can have a place or that I am legit.
But yes, it will be this World Cup or nothing.
Because afterwards, with the new generation that will arrive, it will be too late.