“It wasn't my priority”: Geoffrey Doumayrou tells how he became MHR's defense coach

Geoffrey Doumayrou a terminé sa carrière de joueur en juin dernier, pour finalement devenir entraîneur. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Propelled to coach of the MHR, Geoffrey Doumayrou now wants to make his mark on the players alongside a young staff but with a strong Montpellier identity. The club passes a first test this Friday, at 7 p.m., in Aurillac, in a friendly match.

Watching his ex-teammates struggle with physical training is his little pleasure. “Seeing them run and me not, it does me good”, he smiles, a bit sarcastically.

Geoffrey Doumayrou has definitely changed. The crampons are put away. Make way for the bib stamped "staff". Goodbye to aches and pains. Hello Coach Headaches.

"Doum" was chosen by Joan Caudullo, the new head coach of the Montpellier project. Its mission: defense and camp outings. "This is an area that interests me. It’s not just tackling and mentality. I like the tactical aspect", assures the former international (13 caps). This Friday, against Aurillac, he will see if his instructions are&nbsp ;applied. And to think that six weeks ago, he wasn’t even sure about continuing in rugby…hellip;

Also read: "Sometimes the train only passes once" : Benoît Paillaugue talks about his beginnings as MHR coach

Almost five weeks after the resumption, are you looking forward to this first live bullet test ?

Yeah. I won't hide from you that, right now, we want to see a little bit what the guys are going to put in place after the 4 and a half weeks of work. Especially against a team that already has two friendlies under its belt. Physically, we know that we're going to have a tough time because we're still working on that area. We're going to make sure that there's not a lot of playing time for everyone.

What are the staff's priorities for this match ?

We mainly have expectations about the players' behavior, their involvement, solidarity. Afterwards, we will try to apply the defensive system that we have started to put in place, the same offensively. In any case, see the broad outlines, because we know that it is not ready yet. But I think that there is a way to already see good things.

Let's go back a few weeks. You had barely finished your professional career as a player when you were promoted to coach. Was that planned??

No, not at all. After the play-off, everything happened very quickly. In my mind, I didn't want to coach. When Joan (Caudullo) started talking to the president, that's when he told me he would accept the mission if I came with him. Otherwise, he wouldn't go.
He took me a little by surprise, a little by my feelings. I had to make a decision very quickly, that I would talk about it with my family. But everything happened in 48 hours.

Joan Caudullo among his coaches: Antoine Battut, Benoît Paillaugue, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Benson Stanley and Benjamin Del Moral. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

Did you hesitate ?

No, or at least not for long. It's still a great opportunity. Basically, it wasn't my priority to be on the field. I was coming out of 18 years of life without having a weekend. I told myself that I would find something where I would have them, to take a breather with my family. In the end, I find myself more invested than ever.

When there are opportunities, you have to know how to seize them. I know deep down that I have this bit of a coach side. I did it more or less when I played, at times. That's why Jo wanted me to come. But it wasn't my priority. Now I'm here, 200%. I'm working hard, I didn't take a vacation this summer. I switched right away. Here we are.

What were the others projects ?

I had opportunities outside of rugby. But I was also talking to the club about taking on other positions. It& ;rsquo;It's finally done like this. It's very good.

As a player, you were very demanding of yourself , so with others. Will it be necessary to be more diplomatic as a coach ?

Obviously, we don't say things in the same way. But on the one hand, what's good is that the guys knew me. I was already there criticizing things, but always to help everyone progress a little. This proximity with the guys, we can take it in a negative or positive way. I think it's rather positive.

At least, the guys don't say to themselves: “He's changed compared to when he was a player.” You can't blame me for that. Afterwards, of course I'm still much lighter than when I was a player. Because I can't, every day, every training session, be on the guys' backs.

MHR-Aurillac this Friday, 7 p.m.

First real-ball test for the MHR. It is time for the new staff led by Joan Caudullo to see where his troops are, if the system put in place is starting to be understood. The Montpellier team face Aurillac, 9th in Pro D2 last season. The Cantaliens will play their third friendly match, after Périgueux (victory 29-17) and Nevers (defeat 17-32).

The Héraultais will be without the internationals (Vincent, Nouchi), a few injured players (Forletta, Hogg, Willemse) and the absentees (Reinach, Moorby). “We are going to integrate youngsters and play those who have done all the prep”, assures Geoffrey Doumayrou.

The professional group will take off for Corsica on Sunday for a training camp. They will face the English team Harlequins on Thursday evening, before returning to Montpellier on Friday.

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