"Finding the identity of a club, of a city": Mathieu Bastareaud speaks out before Saturday's clash against Bordeaux-Bègles

Eight years later, Toulon (finally) rediscovered the joys of a Top 14 semi-final. A starting center in the 2017 victory over La Rochelle (18-15), Mathieu Bastareaud agreed to speak to Le Campus this Tuesday at noon. Now the RCT's sports coordinator, he reflects on this long period of time in the wilderness, Toulon's identity, the heavy legacy he has to bear, and his new role.

Toulon had not played in a semi-final since 2017. How do you explain this lull?

It's pretty obvious. The club lacked continuity. We reached a Top 14 final with Richard Cockerill in 2017, he was fired. We had a year with Fabien Galthié, he was fired. We then started again with Patrice Collazo the following season. There was no continuity, neither in terms of the coaching staff nor the squad. We were coming off a successful period for RCT. But the club was unable to replace Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, Jonny Wilkinson when he retired, or Bakkies Botha. And not just because of their level on the pitch. Because of their aura, their identity, their transmission.

Has Toulon lost its identity over the seasons?

A little. When we played, my generation had an identity. We might not have been the most flamboyant team, but we were very strong up front... and we could send rockets through behind. Toulon has been that since the dawn of time. The forward play and the combat phases. That's what people here like. The scrums, the big tackles, being tough on the man. I'm not making this up. When we say "Toulon warriors," it's because we like to rub shoulders. At a certain point, yes, we had lost that. There were a lot of changes in coaches and players. Did those who were there at the time pick up the torch? I'm not sure.

You left the club in 2019, before rejoining it in 2022. Did you continue to follow RCT's difficulties at that time?

Yes, like any fan. Afterwards, I wasn't internally involved and, at that time, I wasn't interested in knowing. It seemed complicated. When I came back, I admit that I didn't really recognize the club. I didn't find that strong identity. Even in certain behaviors. I tried to take a step back and ask myself: "Am I acting like an old fool, or do I have the right feeling?" In the end, I think I wasn't too wrong.

Since the arrival of Pierre Mignoni, the club seems to have found its soul again...

This is his desire. To rediscover the identity of a club, a city, a team. I am also the guarantor of this, whether as a former player or through my position at the club.

Pierre Mignoni reiterates that he wants to see his players "write their own story." How can we detach ourselves from the past without forgetting it?

It's a cycle thing. I experienced that too when I arrived at the club. We were told a lot about the generation that won in 1987 and 1992. Obviously, now we're the last to have won. So, people talk to them about it a lot...

Isn't it too heavy to bear, even if, obviously, the players don't get up every morning thinking about it?

It's not easy to be constantly compared. And that's why Pierre [Mignoni] is right. They need to write their own story, and that's what they're doing. The difference with us is that we achieved success quickly. But it's not the same rugby anymore, nor the same players. Maybe they need a little more time. We're on a long-term project. Even though I know that we always only remember the winner, we have to highlight the progress we've made.

You're now a sports coordinator. How do you organize a semi-final week?

It's quite... lively (smile) . We have to plan everything. For this trip, for example, we decided to bring all the players. Not just the guys in the squad. This semi-final is a collective reward. So, we have to organize it, manage accreditations, places, modes of transport. I have to make sure that it goes as smoothly as possible. I know how it goes when you're a player. You prepare to play an important match and, as it goes on, you have the impression that time slows down. It's the moment when you think and when the slightest hitch can make you lose energy. So, it's up to me, through my role, to try to absorb the collective pressure.

In Toulon, you won every trophy possible. Will you address the group?

No. They know that if they want to talk, they can knock on my door. I'm more for letting them live their adventure. We're just there to support them. I'm not here to explain the semi-finals to them. Yes, I was lucky enough to play a lot of them, but that's another story.

"Don't settle for a semi-final" is the staff's message. How can we not ensure that the team is satisfied with that?

The leaders need to get the message across. We "sweat" things to them. After that, it's up to them to make them their own. What do they want? That's what we need to know. It's been a long road to get back to the semi-finals, but a club like Toulon can't be satisfied. We can't just be happy to be here. We have to aim higher.