Rugby à XV : Pour Nans Ducuing, “l’Union Bordeaux-Bègles respectera l’USAP”
At 29, Nans Ducuing, Girondin for six years, does not forget that it was the USAP that launched his professional career. Injured, he will return to his former club on Saturday from the stands of the Chaban-Delmas stadium.
Nans, what memories of your time at USAP, first at the training center in 2013 and then during the Pro-D2 season in 2014-2015?
Obviously, a very good memory because it was two springboard years for me. I also came to follow my studies while keeping in mind to become a professional player. The first year, I was with the Espoirs where I was very well received. Afterwards, the USAP came down from Top 14. They kept a few young people including me to go back to Pro-D2. I made my first match with the pros in October against Béziers. In Perpignan, where I kept lots of contacts, I loved the public and the Catalans. And then the USAP allowed me to realize my dream by becoming “pro”.
Has USAP been a launching pad for you?
Yes. It was Alain Hyyardet who threw me into the deep end. But I do not forget Patrick Arlettaz who, in Hopes, made me progress a lot. There was also Eric Montgaillard. They gave me confidence, made me play. Maybe without them I wouldn’t have had the little bit of a career I have so far.
“USAP deserves to be in the Top 14”
After Perpignan, direction Bordeaux in 2015. Are you still in contact with the Perpignan players of the current group?
Yes always. No later than last night (Editor’s note: Monday), I was on the phone with Karl Château (Editor’s note: with whom he shared his apartment when he lived in Perpignan). I am also in contact with Tom Ecochard, Enzo Forletta (Editor’s note: gone to Montpellier), Jean-Bernard Pujol or even Alan Brazo who was at my wedding (Editor’s note: July 8, 2020 at Cap Ferret, he married Julie). These are players who mattered to me, who helped me integrate. There are those with whom you bond stronger than with others, and today they are now friends of mine.
What do you think of USAP’s return to the Top 14?
First of all, I am very happy for them. It was a form of logic to find him in the USAP in the Top 14; She has been dominating the Pro D2 for two years. It is a stronghold of French rugby. The entire English rugby landscape is delighted to see USAP at this level. I know it works well. The players, the leaders, the supporters deserve to be in Top 14. I hope that the USAP will be maintained. In any case, it’s much better off than three years ago (Editor’s note: the USAP had to wait until the 16th day of the championship, in February, to sign its first victory of the season). I want to stay in the elite.
How do you live on a personal level the competition with Romain Baros who blocked your way to the finals last season, in the half against Clermont, in the final against Toulouse?
Competition has always been everywhere. In all the clubs, the positions are doubled or even tripled. It is part of the emulation. Frankly, that motivates me. Afterwards Romain had a very good season, I was a little injured and suddenly there was no real competition on the same level. I came back late in the season, not quite ready. Romain (Baros) is a great player. We get on very well. Me, I would like to be able to chain a little more, that the physical glitches leave me a little more alone so that we can really pull the plug together. I did not play the finals last year, that makes you bitch but it is a choice of the coach that I understand because Romain made I repeat a great season and he deserves to play them.
“I see a fairly unbridled match”
Will you be in the Gironde group against the USAP on Saturday?
Unfortunately no. I still have a small muscle problem. I have a short week off. I would have liked to find my old friends on the field of Chaban-Delmas but fate decided otherwise. I will be in the stands.
Among the 21,000 spectators, that’s your average since the start of the season, right?
Yes, there is a large audience that comes to support us at “Chaban”. There are still quite a few tickets that have been sold this weekend.
Since 2015, Chaban-Delmas really vibrates for rugby, how is it going with the Girondins de Bordeaux?
There are exchanges between the two clubs. We will see them from time to time. Bordeaux, which was very football, is becoming more and more rugby. “Chaban” is now fuller than the “Matmut”. It’s not a fight, but rugby is taking up more and more space in Bordeaux and that’s very good for us.
What kind of game are you transporting to USAP on Saturday?
I see a pretty unbridled match. The USAP has strengthened a lot, in front and behind and advocates a game of movements. On one given their video matches, it is a playful team. We are also in our DNA. We are going to take the USAP very seriously, we prepared very well at the start of the week. We will try to take the game from the right end, also take as many points as possible.We know that the USAP is the kind of team that plays its survival in each game and we do not want to fall. in the trap. We have been warned. UBB respects USAP.
“Jaminet? We don’t see that every four mornings ”
Are you surprised by the outbreak of Melvyn Jaminet?
Surprised, yes and no. I didn’t know him more than that last year. But when we saw some of his matches in Pro D2, we saw that it was a phenomenon. We don’t see this every four mornings. Now he will have to confirm, but I have the impression that the young people of now, they are better prepared mentally at the top level. They do not take the lead and do not have the “ball” in the image of Melvyn. He has his head on his shoulders and his feet on the ground. If he continues like this, he is promised a great career.
You celebrated on October 9 against Montpellier (27-23) your 100th match under the jersey of the UBB, what does that represent?
Not bad ! A pride to do that in the same club, it has become rare these days. I am one of the 25 centurions of the UBB.