Toulouse. Dimitri Delibes band at the door again
Upset by a left knee injury after participating in the Supersevens, the former Blagnacais (22) will play his first minutes in the Top 14 this season.
At Stade Toulousain, doubling often rhymes with opportunity. The opportunity to take advantage of the absence of many internationals to point the tip of his nose in the pennant team. Appeared six times at the end of last season, with four tries to the key, Dimitri Delibes had since disappeared from circulation. Well not quite since he had made an extra to VII by participating in the Supersevens this summer. An experience that one can imagine beneficial in building a player. “It taught me a lot of physical glitches I would say because we were not really prepared and then the VII, it hits hard”, yet answers the former Blagnacais with a broad smile.
Words synonymous with regret and bitterness? Absolutely not if we are to believe the person concerned: “It was great to participate in that. We had a good team, I do not regret at all. The main thing is to play and we had a great time together. . “
“It’s up to me to reassure everyone”
Braked by a sprain of the internal lateral ligament of the left knee contracted during training, Delibes did not find his way back to the field until the beginning of the week. This explains his reserve when discussing his return to competition, when it is said that a presence at a press conference is synonymous with place in the 23 on weekends. “We’re not going to claim victory too soon either, the coach will make his choices in relation to training and fit men so for now, I have a lot of cards to play but nothing is being done for me. I’m a little short of playing time, it’s up to me to reassure everyone. “
Substitute at the Arena, he covers the positions of winger but also center, where he trained. “I’ve always preferred this position but I have to be versatile and I don’t mind playing on the wing, he admits. Tim Nanaï-Williams can play in all the positions behind, it’s a true swiss army knife and it is an example to follow. “
“We are not going to revolutionize rugby”
Aware of the mission that awaits this group, amputated by an XV of executives, he intends to help to stay the course. “The internationals did the job before leaving, it is now up to us to assume in this period of doubloons, he announces. Afterwards we must not take the pressure either. Monday, the average age at the We are not going to revolutionize rugby in this period, we are going to tighten up, focus on the fundamentals. ” And there is no question of wanting to do too much individually to seek to stand out: “Here, it’s a strong collective, we are not necessarily trying to get out. And the collective will make some players shine. We will stick to it. to the game plan hoping it will work. “
If he succeeds in the face of Racingmen in full doubt, Stade Toulousain should not be far from the account.