Flagship rookie of La Rochelle, the international opener Antoine Hastoy, who continues to make his mark in the ranks of the European champion, is eager to finally "
discover
" the Champions Cup, Saturday against Northampton, as he explains to the AFP.
Selected twice during the summer tour in Australia and regularly summoned by Fabien Galthié, the 25-year-old player is also counting on this competition to strengthen his chances of participating in the 2023 World Cup.
The new La Rochelle status
“
I am coming to a club which is European champion and which above all wants to show that it was not a shot in the dark, which wants to do great things.
We saw it at the level of the recruits but also from the speech given by Ronan (O'Gara) and all the staff, it is a lot of requirement.
I feel a group that wants to work, to progress and to be better from weekend to weekend
”.
First sensations on the ground
"
I'm still learning how the club and the staff work in relation to the game. It's not perfect all the time, I have to manage to progress further, to do more game. I'm happy to be out of my + routine + where I knew everyone and what was expected of me in Pau.
I'm taking more freedom than at the start of the season, but I have to take even more, put my foot in the game even more. It's not that I'm restrained, but there are a lot of changes for me, I have to be able to take my partners into account, to express myself more
”.
Another former opener manager
“
After Simon Mannix, Ronan O'Gara.
They already know the difficulty of the position and the responsibilities that we have at each match, the questioning that we must have every weekend.
I also like their Anglo-Saxon vision of rugby.
They are two completely different managers but who are very demanding and manage to put you in confidence.
They are tough but fair.
They put the responsibility on the N.10 but the players around must enormously help this N.10 to distribute the responsibilities a little more
”.
The Champions Cup
“
Honestly, I am excited to discover these kinds of matches.
It's the big European Cup, we do this sport to play big matches like that.
It must be a different atmosphere and atmosphere and in addition, given the club's results in the Champions Cup, of course, the fans have a lot of expectations.
They set the bar very high last year, there is a little pressure because we have to be good but it is not compared to the results before that we have to overload ourselves with pressure.
Until then, I had only played the Challenge Cup (thirteen matches with Pau, editor's note), there was a lack.
It's one of the reasons why I came here because I wanted to play the big European Cup,
Goal 2023 World Cup
“
It will go through big matches in the Champions Cup, and experience the final stages by going as far as possible.
You have to make big matches with your club to be able to hope for something in the France team.
I also have to take more control of the La Rochelle game
”.
