Top 14 – Derby Toulouse – Castres: Florent Vanverberghe traces his route
Present in Australia during the summer tour, the Castres was again summoned to the larger group of the Blues for the autumn tests.
He does not have much hair on his chin but behind a dazzling teenage smile, Florent Vanverberghe (21 years old; 1.95 m; 115 kg), second or third row, hides a formidable warrior. Jumper, tackler, scorer, he won in the Castres system where he communicates his success and his pleasure of playing rugby.
There are reflexes that say a lot about man. Florent Vanverberghe says: “It was there, in Lévezou, just before the video session. I received a call, it was William Servat, he told me that I was one of the 42 players. My first gesture was to clench my fist, and my first thoughts were with my family. I admit, it was running through my head, but frankly, I was too happy to hear it. “
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Kockott’s wink
This clenched fist is indicative of the winning temperament of “VDB”, as he has been nicknamed since his childhood. Confirmation: last Saturday after the victory of Castres against Biarritz, the second row was not enthusiastic: “It’s good but we had little slumps. If we do that against Toulouse, we will collect points. At half-time, we were frustrated because we had left Biarritz in the match. “” VDB “marked that evening his first attempt with the CO, following a hand-played:” With Rory, we looked at each other, he winked at me and I understood that it was for me. I was ready, I’m happy, I’ve been waiting to score for a while. It is an intense pleasure. “
Here too, we perceive the competitor in the words of Florent Vanverberghe who does not get carried away and does not forget his partners, in particular the accustomed to penalties played by hand who was more watched than him during this action: “Wilfrid (Hounkpatin, Editor’s note), he’s incredible, he’s a machine, a tractor, we’re happy he’s with us. “
He still misses his mom
The first thoughts of Florent Vanverberghe towards his family when he learned that he was going to join the Blues, to collect his youth, his tenderness. Last season, he was only 20 years old when he left his family in Toulon where he was trained, to join Castres. He told us about his shortcomings at the beginning of this month when the OC received Toulon: “I miss Mom a lot because since July, I haven’t seen him. “Mother, brother, niece, nephew, uncle, the Vanverberghe tribe, dressed in” blue and white “came to Castres to support Florent. A great moment for the one who crossed the stages of childhood, adolescence and professionalism, until the consecration with the Blues with astonishing ease. David Darricarrère knew him in the under-20s: “It was in 2018 and it doesn’t surprise me that he’s here today. He already had a lot of potential at the time and he put those two years to good use to work a lot. The fact of playing, of gaining confidence within an experienced group which helps them, is a trigger. He is one of the important players in our system. “
The Castres coach confirms that “VDB” has made its way with the CO and it will certainly lead to the top. Especially since the tall adolescent that he still seems to be today, has a very solid head propped up on his broad shoulders.