Toulouse (AFP)

Toulouse scrum half Sébastien Bézy, "offensive particle accelerator", according to his coach Ugo Mola, remains in the shadow of Antoine Dupont despite a successful first half of the season, a shadow from which he is determined to leave before join Clermont in the summer.

Sunday, December 29, for the last game of the year, Toulon stands up to the champion of France in a sold-out Stadium (13-13). Who registers the only test of the most successful club in France? A man of 1.74 m for 77 kg who, in the relay of a touch, bypasses the defenders and registers a superb solo test.

A feat in line with its start to the season and even beyond, since the original Ile-de-France was an essential cog in the conquest, in June, of the club's 20th Brennus Shield: 24 games played out of 28, including 16 tenure! "Exposing him more than we do today, frankly, I don't see how we could do it, he plays so often!" Exclaims Mola.

Wednesday, Bézy, 28, hoped for a reward for his thunderous start to the season. Only, to his great regret, at the end of training, the N.9 did not receive the desired call.

Bézy therefore did not find a place on the list of 42 players for the Six Nations Tournament. Unlike Dupont, 23. However, barely returned from a back injury during his World Cup, the latter once again passed Bézy, who had held the helm of the Red and Black during the World Cup. The Toulonnais Baptiste Serin, 25, and the Bordeaux Maxime Lucu, 26, were also preferred.

"It is a disappointment. It is not an end in itself. I will continue to work. And nothing to give up," assured the player whose all appearances in Blue (7) go back to 2016.

- Investment in Dupont -

His teammate, Australian opener Zack Holmes deplored this non-selection. "It is not me who decides, but for me, it should be there," he said. "It's hard for him," added Mola, recognizing the quality of the three selected halves, while noting Bézy's investment for the Stade. A club that the player will "unfortunately" leave.

And Mola underlines the importance of Bézy. "It is a real accelerator of offensive particles, a boy very useful in our device, almost essential," insisted the manager of the Rouge et Noir, ensuring that "the complementarity between Bézy and Dupont delighted him".

According to Bézy, a child of Bagneux (Hauts-de Seine), who arrived in Toulouse as a cadet, it was this competition with Dupont, who arrived from Castres in 2017, which led him to sign for three years in Clermont. Because, in his eyes, the fight was lost in advance when he sees only positive in the emulation against Clermontois Morgan Parra.

"We talked about it with the coaches, with the president (from Toulouse, Didier Lacroix). It couldn't change. They are investing a lot in Antoine. That made me want to leave," he explained.

- "Enjoy" Toulouse -

"Leaving was the thing I had to do. Clermont is a very beautiful team. I am very happy that they want me" added the one who should cross the 500 point mark (497 currently, including 22 tries ) for its 7th full season with the pros.

"We did everything to keep it. I couldn't put it forward any more. I couldn't expose it any more," Mola pleaded, before wondering. "I don't know if the yellow (Clermont) will suit him well. But it has long been very becoming in red and black".

The transfer settled, Bézy is determined to "take advantage of the moments" that he will spend again in Toulouse to try "to gain something". And why not the European Cup? Beginning of response Saturday in Galway against Connacht, in which a victory will ensure the qualification for the quarter-finals.

© 2020 AFP