Léo Carbonneau: Racing for Responsibility | [Publication Name]

Change of dimension. Coveted by many top 14 teams, the young and promising half of melee Léo Carbonneau has chosen to leave Brive, in Pro D2, and to get involved for the next four seasons with Racing 92, which wants to find its chandelier after having lacked the final stages last year for the first time since its return to the elite in 2009-2010. The son of Philippe Carbonneau – brilliant French international (32 selections in the 1990s) – arrives in Hauts -de -Seine, at 20, to succeed Nolann Le Garrec, former child of the club who left for Stade Rochelais.

U20 world champion In 2023, the former couju will form a hinge stamped “Pro D2” with the UGO Senes (24) opener who had shone with Aurillac. After the failure of his policy of recruiting stars (the South African Siya Kolisi then the English Owen Farrell), the Racing 92 focuses on French youth. And carbon “Will embody the club’s sports ambition for the future”the Altosequani club had underlined when he formalized his arrival. After the rout against Lyon (32-7) at the opening, the sky and white are already under pressure before receiving, in Paris La Défense Arena, the UBB European champion.

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Her first at Arena

“I can’t wait to play in this stadium. And also, to make a completely different performance from the first day in Lyon. We want to show that we got into the top 14 and have a good game. We made a poor performance against Lyon. Afterwards, it happens in the Top 14 … We are especially looking forward to recovering and making a good match against Bordeaux. To launch this season well. “

By looking at the match against Lyon, it is a feeling of helplessness, of having done nothing

L’indiscipline face au LOU

“Frankly, we had a bit of a feeling of helplessness. As the match progresses, we try to find solutions. When we had the ball, in the first period, we found solutions, we crossed. But it ends up with a fault, by an in front. Free kicks (also called “broken arms”, editor’s note) also on the scrums. There are things that do that after we are no longer master of what’s going on on the field. We thought about how we could have reacted. But looking at the match, it is a feeling of helplessness, for having done nothing. Because as soon as we had the ball, we were dangerous. Frankly, we almost scored a 100 -meter test. We marked a test as soon as we got into their 22 m (by Hughes in the 8th minute, editor’s note). But afterwards, in the field, we did not find the solutions defensively to react. ”

His place in his new team

“Everything is going well. In training, we play well, we enjoy. But now you have to transcribe it in the matches. My place, I would tell you when we will make a good match against Bordeaux and we will have won. I would tell you that I feel good and everything will be fine. (Smile) For the moment, in the first match we made, we took 30 in Lyon, so we can’t rejoice that, say that we played well and that we enjoy. In training, I do not hide from you that players have very big quality. Me, it helps me and I enjoy being by their side every day and training with them. ”

Succeed Nolann Le Garrec

“It’s not hard at all. No way. No, at all. I only have that to say. (laughs) Me, that’s why I came: to seek responsibilities where they are. I had in Brive and a Top 14 club offered me others. This is also why I made the choice to come here to Racing. Afterwards, there is also playing with Ugo (Senes), to have Kléo (Labarbe) also next to me who is the same age, we get along well. Frankly, these are things that there is to take and that you should not miss in life. On the contrary, you have to take that with great enthusiasm and a huge desire to do well. Without putting pressure on yourself. Frankly, it’s excitement. “

Face Bordeaux, European champion, at Arena, I came for that, to play these high-level matches and confront the best

UBB, a very playful team

“We will have to make a good game strategically. Face Bordeaux, European champion, at Arena, I came for that, to play these high-level matches and confront the best and also play with the best who are next to me. I can’t wait to be on the field and make the best possible match. ”

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Gap between Pro D2 and Top 14

“It’s something else. The pressure of the maintenance and the pressure of the top 6 are two completely different things. Maintaining, we have a knife under our throat all the matches we play, so we don’t want to make mistakes, while when we play the top 6, we know that the Top 14 is a tight championship, so you have to take the right entrance car. This is where we will not have to miss against Bordeaux this weekend. ”

A scorer role in Racing?

“Last year, I think I stumbled once. Afterwards, I stumbled upon 20 years old, I stumbled in Top 14 in my early days (With the CAB in 2022-2023, editor’s note). In Pro D2, I have always worked it every week, every weekend. After, in Brive, I always had a number 1 goalscorer: Nico Sanchez and, last year, Curwin Bosch, who had been recruited for that. I trained alongside them and there, this year, there is Ugo (Senes) which was a very large goalscorer in Pro D2. He showed it to us last year, so it’s number 1 and, with Max (Spring), we are there too. Max took the goal against Lyon, I too can take it. This is something that enlarges our technical palette, so if I have to take the goal, it will be with pleasure. It will make me score points, gain confidence is all I ask. ”

Interview at a press conference