Bastareaud feels ‘nothing’ in Wellington
Mathieu Bastareaud has plenty more to worry about than relitigating his headline-making Wellington exploits from nine years ago.
But on return to the same Featherston Street hotel for the first time since he made up a story about being bashed on the street in the early hours, France’s captain went there.
Reluctantly, briefly and politely, during a 20-minute press conference mainly in French, with some well spoken English for the benefit of curious local reporters.
Asked his feelings about returning to the scene of the ‘ crime’, Bastareaud’s jaw hardened a fraction.
‘‘Nothing,’’ he said. A supplementary question drew slightly more.
‘‘I’m older,’’ he smiled. ‘‘It was nine years, for me it’s the past. Not for you, a journalist. My life continued after that and for me it is a good place.’’
Case closed. Bastareaud revisited the incident in his 2015 autobiography Head high: Confessions of an enfant terrible of rugby.
He wrote he fell over in his room and smashed his head on a table after a big night out, but was ashamed at his behaviour and lied when being stitched by the team doctor.
Bastareaud claimed he was attacked by five men on the way home, sparking outrage in Wellington about the city’s unsafe streets, two years out from hosting the World Cup.
‘‘I should have confessed I was drunk, but I’m not proud of my behaviour and I am afraid to face sanctions. I am a coward,’’ he wrote. ‘‘So, instead of telling the truth and trusting management, I am going to develop a lie that will have heavy consequences.’’
More pressing for the powerful centre is how France will close the gap on the All Blacks in tonight’s second test at Westpac Stadium, a week after losing 52-11.
Some reinforcements have
arrived in the form of three players from the Top 14 final: Kelian Galletier, Benjamin Fall and Mathieu Babillot.
Said Bastareaud: ‘‘Last week we defend like a kid. We have to show that we are a team, not just a selection of players. We have a good atmosphere in the group but we have to show that on the field.’’
It was timely watching France’s under-20 side beat New Zealand in the world championship semifinals on television at their Auckland hotel, Bastareaud said.
‘‘We watched the game together, Wednesday morning. It was a good
game for us. They played with passion and they showed they love this game on the pitch.
‘‘It’s why I said to the team we have to play with passion and take pleasure on the field, play together, bleed together. Rugby is that.’’
There was one subject for Bastareaud to smile about: French reports that blockbusting wing Julian Savea has signed with his bigspending Toulon club.
A look of surprise was replaced by a smile.
‘‘Big news for us. One of the best wings of the world and I’m just happy for the club and for Savea.’’
‘‘It was nine years, for me it’s the past. Not for you, a journalist. My life continued after that and for me it is a good place.’’
Mathieu Bastareaud on his infamous incident in Wellington in 2009