A child from Bidart. He was born there, touched his first balloons at the BUC (Bidart Union Club) on the lawn of the Uhabia stadium. “It makes me happy to talk about it elsewhere”, he explains, before landing as a cadet at Biarritz Olympique. At the age of 18, he entered the training center before taking his hopeful classes. Baptiste Erdocio (1.72 m for 112 kg) played his first three matches in the Red and White jersey this season : against Lyon and Paris, and Castres. Before the trip to Clermont this Saturday for the BOPB, meeting with one of those whose first name is chanted in the stands of Aguiléra, despite his young age.
If we tell you that on Saturday you will be in front of Rabah Slimani, a reference to the post …
Sure, sure. It’s huge and it’s great to play against players of this caliber. Almost five years ago, when he was playing against Wales with the XV of France, where the match went until the 100th minute I was in front of the TV encouraging him and there this weekend. end, I will play against him.
How do you analyze your career at the start of the season? This summer, there were ten pillars in the BOPB workforce …
I am a competitor so I tell myself there are people for sure, but it’s up to me to prove, to give everything. Then the coaches will make their choice. The road is long, but hey, working on this, you should be fine […] This is where we see that we have a team where we all get along well and where we are friends. After that I am only 21 years old. I am here to learn. It’s already huge to play in the Top 14. Afterwards, I’m still quite lucid. I know there has been a pillar breakage, that I am not the first choice. So it’s up to me now to show that I have all my chances at this level […] When we started with the youngest, it was my passion. Since I was five years old, I have been on the edge of the field in Bidart. When I was little, I wanted to play first because there were my idols, like Sébastien Dufau. Afterwards, little by little, it is true that Biarritz with players like Serge Betsen, Imanol Harinordoquy, Dimitri Yachvili, players like that, it has always made me dream. And there you go, in my family, we are Biarrot so it was just a childhood dream to enter Aguiléra and grow in this jersey.
There are a lot of young people in the stands and that gives a nice atmosphere.
How do you explain the enthusiasm in the stands compared to you and the many supporters who push when you come home or are going to warm up? As for Bastien Soury.
There are a lot of young people in the stands and that gives a nice atmosphere. My family is also a little known here, and then they have a garage near the stadium in Bidart. My father (Étienne) played a bit in Biarritz. My uncle, my grandparents too. That’s what people push for, for my dad and for everyone. It is heartwarming.
What are the strengths and areas for improvement that you envision at the start of your professional career?
Progress, at my post, on the scrum, that’s for sure and until the end. We must always progress in this area because we are judged on it. Afterwards, also progressing in the sequence of tasks, it is a rhythm harder than hope, it runs. And especially on the lawn of Aguiléra, the ground is a little oily so it hangs on the ground. Then continue to train hard.
Guy Millar is the gentleman of Biarritz Olympique!
How is the youngster accepted by the elders?
I am integrated and there is no problem with that. I get roomed, always a little bit, but it’s nice.
And you continue to grow through the experience of players like Guy Millar or James Cronin in front …
When we see Guy Millar’s matches I think there is no photo. This is the gentleman from Biarritz Olympique, Guy Millar. He can do everything, so learning alongside him is great. He is always good advice. It is a reference to this position like James Cronin who is Irish international. Learning with players like that is super interesting and fun. I talk a lot with Guy, especially for the melee positions, on the keys, the techniques. Learn more about throw-ins by anticipating races, etc. he tells me and that’s good.
Was it more impressive for you to give your first press conference or to enter the lawn of Aguiléra?
I’m not taking the lead and frankly, it’s all happiness when I’m on the pitch, it’s a kid’s dream, so I’m not going to put pressure on myself because it’s rugby, it’s is what I love to do and I train every day of the week for it. There is always a little stress, but no pressure, it’s just happiness. After that, I’ve been with this group for a year and a half, the pro group. So they gradually prepared me to get me into the matches.