“It’s disappointing, but the tournament is not lost”, reacts Vincent Clerc

Vincent Clerc is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in rugby 15 and 7. A French international, he is one of the most effective wingers in finishing, with a solid and athletic physique. Three clubs accompanied his life, Stade Toulousain, FC Grenoble and Rugby Club Toulonnais. In 14 years, at the highest level, he won three French championship titles, three European Cups, three victories in the Six Nations Tournament. He is also the best scorer of the 2011 World Cup, tied with Englishman Chris Ashton and the holder of the greatest number of tries scored, 101 to be precise, in the French championship.

From now on, he is a consultant for France Télévisions and comments on the Six Nations Tournament which opened on February 4, 2023 in Cardiff.

franceinfo: France lost to Ireland 32-19 on Saturday in Dublin. Is it hard to take?

Vincent Clerk: Yes, it’s hard, but the Irish were very close to us. They have also been winning for months, a lot, even if they were not undefeated, they were in the same dynamic as the France team. They had a very good game in Wales. They confirmed on their land against the France team. It’s disappointing, but the tournament is not lost. There are still a few games left.

This is also the strength of the Six Nations Tournament, nothing is ever won and nothing is ever lost.

No, it is often played on the last matches, at the last second, it can be played on goal average, on points. It’s true that it’s a tournament that keeps suspense until the end, and I experienced it on the good side, so it was great.

What does rugby represent for you?

It represents my whole life. At the beginning, it was not a passion, it was mimicry compared to my father. And then it made me grow as a man. I became professional, not by chance because there is no chance, but it was not a predestined course. The fact of telling ourselves that whatever these qualities, somewhere, we have a place and we have something to bring to the group, that meant a lot to me.

At 11, you went to attend a training session with the Wallabies, world champions in 1991 and this moment will be very important in your career because it will make you want to continue, to hang on.

Yes, because I’ve seen normal people in the middle of two-meter, 120-kilogram physiques. There were normal players who were the best players in the world at their time, I am thinking in particular of a player who inspired me a lot, Tim Horan. I thought to myself why not! From that moment on, I identified with people who seemed normal and yet were extraordinarily successful, by their physical qualities and by their state of mind, by their mentality, the fact of hanging on, of always wanting more, always working. There were other players like Franck Corillon in Grenoble, who supported my career because I said to myself: but if they can do it, why not me? Why not look like them? I was not projecting myself towards a professional world, but it made this environment accessible.

It is Jacques Delmas who will give you your chance at FC Grenoble. It was in division two. Bernard Laporte will call you to face the Springboks in Marseille. Then it’s Marc Lievremont who will offer you his confidence. How did you experience his first steps in the France team and especially playing under the flag of the France team?

I was as happy for myself as for the family because suddenly, we take everyone on a kind of adventure which is the national team. Hymns, TV, it brings a lot of things that seemed inaccessible. And then, I’m 21, I find myself alongside players like Thomas Castaignède. It’s completely crazy to become their teammate, a little later their friend and to play against nations that made me dream.

“A few months before joining the France team, I wore the South Africa jersey. In my second selection, I played against Jonah Lomu with whom I played on the PlayStation! So there was an irrational side, but I took it as a challenge.”

Vincent Clerc

at franceinfo

You have a serious knee injury requiring eight months of recovery. Then it was the Achilles heel. Did you doubt at times?

In fact, there is no doubt during the injury. It lasts six months, we move forward, we see that we are progressing. And then the day when we are told: “That’s it, you’re cured“and that we end up on the field, that’s where we doubt because we realize that we don’t have the level before. And that was the greatest moment of doubt over a few weeks. After an injury, when you become able to play again, well, you feel a little overwhelmed. I succeeded because I was well surrounded, but there were little moments of doubt.

You have built up one of the finest records of French rugby fifteens in the club on the one hand, and in the French team on the other. One of the most beautiful exploits remains the title of vice-world champion, it was in 2011 in New Zealand, with a defeat against the All Blacks. How does this match still galvanize you today?

He frustrates me rather because I would have had the gold medal around my neck. There was really a duel between us before the match, in the look, in the attitudes that I think we felt full of confidence and that we were capable of beating them. The All Blacks are extraordinary players, so we often lose against them, but on that day, we knew we could have done it, we had the team for it, we made the match for it, but it was not not undeserved that the All Blacks are world champions on this 2011 World Cup.

Last question, obviously difficult, because you are close to it. How did you experience what happened with Bernard Laporte and the high authorities of rugby?

“I believe that today, as in any instance, you need to set an example and that from the moment you get off the road, you have to give way to new people and that they bring freshness.”

Vincent Clerc

at franceinfo

It must not pollute the athlete. This is not the case for the moment, but it should not last too long either.

We will follow you through this Six Nations Tournament. Your final prediction? Who will win this tournament?

The french team !