Retief Marais is one of the CAB warriors. The South African has been in every game since the start of the season except the first at home against USAP. “I was unable to play the friendly matches and the first against Perpignan because of a cervical injury” he said sadly. Lucky for him, he now feels “in fine fettle”.
And it works. A statistic highlighted it a few weeks ago in Toulouse: 6 balls stolen in touch, a record in Top 14. The touch is an area where he puts a lot of heart to work.“We analyze the video to know how the opponents do it. We can’t be sure what they will do in a match, but it gives a general idea.” explains Retief Marais.
Behind these sessions, CAB video analysts and Arnaud Méla, the new coach of the touchline. At his side, Retief learns, he who has seen him little as a player. “I had a match with him in the Challenge, but that’s all. When I arrived, it was his last season” he says, without trusting him completely. “It was the captain and he was in the sidelines. Plus, it’s been not long since he stopped playing, so he’s bringing something he used to do when he was playing. ”
His brother Peet scouting in Brive
Casually, he is attacking his 6th season at CA Brive. The last of a rugby player family, Retief Marais was immersed in this universe : his father was a pillar, his brother Jandre plays second row in Bordeaux-Bègles, where he is the oldest of the siblings to have won in Top 14. At 20, he also wanted to join France. “My agent told me that I could still be JIFF and that it was important because there are quotas” he explains. “I then spoke with my brothers.” One plays in Bordeaux, the other plays in Brive. “I preferred Brive because I thought it would suit me more” he explains.
He therefore finds his other brother Peet there who last year, after 112 games at the CAB and a forearm injury, hung up, not without difficulty. This early retirement affected the whole family, including the discreet Retief. “It’s a wake up call, it means you never know when your last game will be. So you have to earn every scoresheet” explains the one who therefore has a huge boost in motivation at the dawn of this season, which is already well underway.
Far from his country and his family
From now on, Peet has returned to South Africa, with the ambition of returning to Brive one day. But travel is becoming rarer. In question, words now daily: Omicron variant, Covid and PCR tests. Retief Marais admits a certain weariness and sadness. “My parents were supposed to come for Christmas, but I think it’s complicated” explains the young 26-year-old rugby player. “Apart from my brother in Bordeaux, my family is all in South Africa. Sometimes it’s hard in the moment” he confides. “It’s not like it used to be, it’s not so easy to go see someone” regrets Retief, even if he at least has his passion for refocusing. “There’s rugby, you’re always busy so it’s not something you think about all the time.” The South African will therefore give his all in the field, in discreet work, in the shade, but often very effective.