“I didn’t want to be here”: at Perpignan, nerves are raw

In the press conference room, the mood was heavy on Friday. Among those present, our colleagues from L’Indépendant and Ici Roussillon, sat facing Tristan Tedder, USAP’s fly-half or full-back. The South African is not the type to make headlines about himself. But this time… The former Toulouse and Bayonne player emptied his bag and even let his despair spill out.

“That’s an easy one, what do you think? We’re 0 for 6, so…“, Tedder shot back first, answering a question about the squad’s morale. The versatile back added that the players had to “take their responsibilities“. As the press conference went on, the fly-half or full-back, who has also played for Béziers and Racing 92, went further.

“I don’t really want to talk. I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t want to be here, now, in front of you. I’m sorry if I’m wound up, but that’s the truth. I don’t want to lie and I don’t want to lie to the team either“, Tedder said, in comments reported by L’Indépendant. Before adding: “Because live rounds are being fired in the papers, in the media, and I want to protect the team. That’s what matters most“.

0 points

It has to be said that nothing is going right in this start to the season. Injuries by the bucketload, the departures of coaches Bastide and Marty, six defeats in as many matches, sanctions after a few “supporters” overstepped the mark… And bottom place with 0 points on the board. Even newly promoted Montauban, who were promised a season in hell, have managed to pick up three points (a draw, a losing bonus point).

Faced with that situation, Tristan Tedder did not hesitate to raise the harassment the players have suffered, particularly on social media. “Whatever you do in life, you get criticised. Obviously we chose to play rugby because we’re passionate about it. But being harassed on social media by several people, in the papers, in the news, that’s always difficult in the world we live in today, with social media and comments behind a keyboard.”

And he concluded: “It’s a lot easier to say things when you’re behind a screen. There are lads in the team who are taking it very badly. For them, at home, with the kids and the family, it’s very difficult“. Tedder even says he does not want to leave the house. A serious and terribly sad situation.

From now on, the squad is fed up with talking, according to the fly-half or full-back. It wants to act. The 40 points shipped at Lyon hurt. Saturday’s visit of UBB (16:35) promises to be played under very high tension.