Rugby / Pro D2: Jeff Fonteneau: « At one point, yes, I was very scared… »

How do you view this season, in the end far from the objectives set at the start of the season?

The goal was to be in the six. It was, in my opinion, quite achievable by preparing appropriately. This team is, in the end, both very far from and very close to the top 6. Except at the start of the season, we hooked all the teams that qualified. So indeed, we lost in Bayonne and conceded a draw in Armandie. But we beat Nevers, Colomiers and Caracassonne at home. We lost very little against Oyonnax. Perhaps I should have reacted earlier regarding the manager. I listened to a lot of people when I recruited Christophe Laussucq’s successor. Less this time.

In your opinion, is it the completely failed start to the season or the trauma of last season that explains this failure?

The two. First of all, we didn’t prepare very well. We have seen it on the physical level. It was surely linked to this difficult season which left a trauma. But I remember that we got out of it, because it was very complicated given the physical and mental state of the players at a given moment. We were not spared by the critics, me first. Unfortunately, not everything can be changed with the snap of a finger. But I’m proud of the team, of the people who were there at the right time. And also Bernard Goutta, who arrived in a particularly difficult context.

Did you really believe, this season, that the club had a « chance » to go down to the National?

Sincerely yes. This season, apart from three teams that are above, all had the knife between their teeth. Today, there is less and less difference in budgets. Also, in National, there are formations that are on the lookout. So at a certain moment, I was very scared… Even if there was a start when the former manager left, we were still very fragile despite everything. The real turning point of the season remains the victory in Narbonne, with this drop from « Dan » Gerber, which condemns the Audois. And at the same time, you realize that you can even get something else if, for example, you manage to switch to Bourg-en-Bresse.

On the evening of the first victory against Aurillac, we saw you in tears. Is this, on a personal level, your worst exercise as president of the SUA?

It was difficult. I struggled internally and externally. We were attacked from all sides. The players weren’t well at all for trading with them. They were psychologically affected, there were losses of self-esteem. It was a very heavy burden. This victory against Aurillac was a deep relief because, that evening, we broke something. It was very strong. We mostly did it with energy. Without really any organization or structures, things that we normally rely on. We have seen it all this season, our touch has been faulty, we have been very fragile on the balls carried. But we went after us. It’s still a small feat, when you lose eight matches in a row, to come back. Because you’re a target for everyone.

What do you think the arrival of Bernard Goutta in Agen has brought?

We really needed energy, a new discourse. You also had to be strict. That players believe in certain things. Bernard was apparently the man for the job. He has proven it since. Almost two months passed before he arrived. During this time, we organized ourselves as well as we could and managed to straighten our heads, which was beneficial for Bernard’s arrival. But I felt that we could not attack the second phase of the championship in this situation. Christophe also brought his expertise, and he was very much appreciated by the environment.

Like Mauricio Reggiardo, does the SUA necessarily need a charismatic leader of men at the head of the team?

Players need to identify with someone, with something. Also, a situation that will reassure them with the establishment of frameworks. We have young players, we need a manager who has a strong charisma, who commands respect. Afterwards, it has to be a pair that works with the rest of the staff and the president of course. As for me, I was in deep disagreement with the approach of Régis Sonnes. I had taken a step back on the field. In the end, I really blame myself for leaving him the keys to the truck that way. But it’s always complicated. You are criticized for being too present, or for not being present enough. My position is not simple. Finding the right balance with your manager is very important. Bernard Goutta, today, has a lot of weight and control over the team, in a good way.

Are the performances at Armandie a guarantee of hope for the following season?

I can’t imagine losing eight games in a row again. It is not possible. We don’t want to go through that again. Afterwards, we have already said that, when we had not yet touched the bottom of the pool. What is certain is that since the departure of Régis Sonnes – apart from two matches narrowly lost due to a huge refereeing error against Oyonnax and a cap try against Mont-de-Marsan – we no longer have lost with us. It is significant.

We feel that Bernard Goutta is looking to recruit experienced players. What do you think this group lacked?

We’re going to look for experienced players, it’s true, we pay attention to the balance in certain positions. But we also keep a good part of our workforce. Behind in particular, we will make sure that many players have playing time, because it is important.

In the end, the 2022-2023 season will arrive very quickly. What should the SUA aim for? The top 6 or ensuring the maintenance the fastest?

Above all, we want to get off to a good start and ensure this famous maintenance. We realize that a season is based on not much. This will be the objective, but in the head, we rather want, of course, to play at the top of the table. We are supposed to have the means to do so. We see that in Colomiers, when we had nothing left to play for, we bothered them and it didn’t go very far. Like the match in Carcassonne lost 13 to 11 but which we can win despite very difficult conditions. After this meeting, I heard the environment saying that we had lost against a weak team but I had seen that evening, the profile of a very difficult team to play. The sequel proved it. Overall, if we had had a better start, the season would not have been the same. With a few away matches going well… But we weren’t able to do that.

After several turbulent seasons, the team and the club seem to need stability.

This is essential. My responsibility is engaged in relation to the choices that are made. I released Christophe Laussucq after seven or eight lost matches. The situation was very complicated, he lived things very badly, the situation was not favorable. I thought I could play stability with Régis Sonnes and the arrival of Jalil Narjissi and Sylvain Mirande too. But that did not work. So it is certain that today, the priority of priorities is to bring stability.