Interview in Bayonne
To discover
Schedule and Top 14 results
Ranking Top 14
Le Figaro - How do you view the good season achieved by Aviron Bayonnais?
Camille Lopez:
We are obviously satisfied.
With the results that we had, we are more than in the nails.
It's a good thing done!
What did you tell yourself at the start of the season?
There were no particular expectations.
By being the promoted, the objective – even if we had not necessarily talked about it – was to play the maintenance.
We couldn't claim anything else.
Afterwards, we managed to chain the good performances.
We were certainly promoted, but we did not want to overuse the matches, even outside.
When you are promoted, you want to focus on staying sovereign at home, it's important to maintain yourself.
But we had said to ourselves that we did not want to let go of away matches.
That's what we did, with some things not bad, others not so well.
But, overall, we show a good picture.
Afterwards, it is over time that we will see.
One of the strengths of your team has been to show an excellent state of mind...
It's easy to set goals, it's all about putting action on them.
On this point, we indeed show a strength of character which means that we never give up.
Even if there are away games that we didn't win, but we always gave it our all and that's the main thing.
The goal is to have no regrets.
That way we can move forward.
And you have succeeded in ensuring your maintenance in the Top 14...
Yes it is acquired.
We were able to do things that put us in a comfortable position.
When you're promoted, you're worried about taking 40 points every weekend.
This good fear makes you put yourself on the level of your opponents...
And why not see higher and a place in the final phase?
Above is too complicated.
We'll see what the results bring.
It's too early to talk about it.
We had already seen that our victory against Stade Français was a small miracle.
We could see what it gives against the teams at the top of the table.
We are below... Then we will see.
You are the best team at Jean-Dauger. What strength do you draw from it?
Before losing against Pau (in San Sebastian), there were still several matches where it was very close.
The match against Toulon, we replayed it ten times, we lost it nine times.
But we have, from the start, wanted to remain sovereign at home.
It smiled on us.
We are carried by a whole audience, a whole city, a whole stadium that are pushing hard behind us.
In our situation, facing big chunks, it feels good to feel that support.
We need this strength.
Its an asset.
Bayonne is a land of rugby and we show it every weekend.
Read alsoTop 14: in an atmosphere worthy of the final stages, Pau signs a feat by winning against Bayonne
For a promoted, you have not fed complexes...
We try.
We don't just do great things, but we try.
I don't want to make any complexes.
We respect all the teams we face.
What made our strength is that when you are promoted, you are afraid of taking 40 points every weekend.
This good fear makes you level with your opponents.
Afterwards, I still think that we are still far from the big leagues.
When I signed for Bayonne, I knew I was going to struggle.
But, today, we struggle less than expected...
Has this
“fear of taking 40 points”
stayed with you for a long time?
Yes, do not lie!
There are almost only big teams in the Top 14. When you move to Stade Toulousain, you know you can take 50 points because you know it's possible at any time.
This fear made us give our all.
Our group didn't give up, that's what makes us strong.
We tried to do well in every game.
Are the bases solid in Bayonne for the rest of the Top 14?
It's clear.
The club's ambition is to stay in the Top 14 over the long term.
Today, rising Pro D2 clubs are in a complicated situation, they are yo-yoing.
This had been the case with Rowing in recent years.
But today, the goal is to keep the club in the top flight because it's a city and a region that sweat rugby, it's a stronghold of rugby.
Rowing deserves to have its place in the Top 14, the club is doing everything for it: the stand, the stadium, the training center have been developed.
We don't envy others.
Bayonne is getting up to date.
Personally, what did you expect when you came to Bayonne?
When I signed for Bayonne and the club went up last season, I knew I was going to struggle.
Today, we struggle less than what was expected.
(
smile
) We are lucky to have gotten ahead of those who are fighting to maintain it.
We didn't necessarily expect it... We saw beautiful things.
But you have to build yourself little by little and help the club grow.
I do not represent the future but I hope that young people will rub shoulders with the high level with this club.
Even if I'm having a lot of fun and everything is going well, I don't represent the future...
We still have the impression that you are living a second youth this season?
I found the family, the friends, the region, a new group, it did me a lot of good.
It gives momentum.
Even if I'm having a lot of fun and everything is going well, I don't represent the future... (
laughs
) Young people also do me good, I enjoy being with them.
The goal is to accompany them as well as possible so that they can enjoy themselves.
Because of your status and your experience, did you have any pressure when you arrived at Rowing?
I knew the anticipation was high.
It's a land of rugby, the public is demanding.
It was not, however, a negative pressure.
I have some experience but I told them from the start: “
I'm no one to explain anything to you.
I'll just try to be myself.
“Things happened naturally.
And we quickly built things.
Do you feel the rivalry with Biarritz?
I felt it all the more since I was at the heart of a subject between the two clubs
(in contact with the BO, he had finally committed with his rival, Ed)
.
We feel this rivalry.
It's been there for years.
I am from Mauléon, it is not at the heart of the thing, but we feel that some supporters will never be able to live together.
It's like that... When I came with Clermont last year, when I had already signed up with Bayonne
(since January 2022)
, I was made to feel this rivalry...