At 33, Alexis Palisson "finds a second youth" with Colomiers

The former three-quarter international, finalist of the 2011 World Cup, signs an excellent start to the championship with Colomiers, in Pro D2

Alexis Palisson during Colomiers' crushing victory over Soyaux-Angoulême in Pro D2 (53-11), October 16, 2020. -

Jean-Louis Mével / Colomiers Rugby

Arrived at Colomiers this summer, the back or winger Alexis Palisson (33) has already scored four tries in six appearances.
This Saturday he faces Oyonnax, the ogre of Pro D2.
Double European champion and champion of France with Toulon, the winner of the 2010 Grand Slam in Blue says he is filled with his career.
The 2011 World Cup final lost by nothing against the All Blacks, however, remains "a big scar", nine years later.

Colomiers-Oyonnax is the shock of the weekend in Pro D2, with a great exhibition, this Saturday at 9 p.m. on Canal + Sport.

The team from the Toulouse suburbs (fifth) receives training from the Ain which turns like a plane (seven games, seven wins).

Complicated, even if the Colombe club can count on the talent and experience of Alexis Palisson.

The former back or winger of the XV of France (33 years old, 21 caps) has already scored four tries in six appearances this season.

Arrived in July for a final two-year challenge (plus one optional), Palisson is reborn after a complicated period, marked by physical worries and a quick stint as a medical joker at the Stade Français.

Alexis Palisson in the 2011 World Cup final against the All Blacks in New Zealand.

- Themba Hadebe / AP / SIPA

What to consider a good end of career: "Colomiers will be my last club", assures the one who wore the number 11 during the unforgettable final of the World Cup 2011 in New Zealand, lost by a hair against the All Blacks (8-7).

An indelible scar.

What is Colomiers' objective this season, after a 2019-2020 exercise “frozen” in the spring when the team was leader?

Already feasting on the field.

Talking about ambitions is complicated compared to the current situation.

We still have two games behind (because of the games postponed due to Covid-19), we do not really know where we are.

It's difficult to know if we have the ability to play the Top 6, which is our goal.

You will know more after the reception of Oyonnax, still undefeated ...

It's really important for us and it's a big challenge too.

When we study other teams in video, we always find small flaws.

There, we meet a formation ready to climb to the Top 14.

On a personal level, this start of the season is going very well ...

I find a second youth at 33 years old.

I enjoy the atmosphere as well as the field.

Between the announcement of your probable arrival and your official signing on July 20, things dragged on a bit ...

It's because of the Covid.

There were big doubts about keeping players' salaries.

Discussions were well advanced with Alain (Carré, the president of Colomiers).

I had known from my agent that the club was looking for a back-winger with experience because there is a lot of youth in the back lines.

It completely corresponded to my desires to transmit, while having a high objective, why not the climb.

When Alain called me back and told me it was going to be complicated, I fell from a height.

Finally, I contacted him again, I did not understand the decision because we could find an interesting agreement.

And finally, it was done ...

I still have a few years to go.

Well, I have old people worries

(laughs)

, especially on the back.

The recovery is less good, the weeks are longer.

But I feel good, my states of fatigue are well managed.

Alexis Palisson has filled his prize list under the colors of Toulon.

- Anne-Christine Poujoulat / AFP

How do you see your career?

I have been very lucky.

Already because I started in Brive in a club which was evolving at the top of the ranking, with elders like Nicolas Le Roux who pushed the coaches to make me play.

I repeat, I really had the chance to meet some exceptional guys.

I signed in Toulon in the good years, with Bernard Laporte, Pierre Mignoni, all the stars… I won many titles thanks to them (European Cup 2013 and 2014, French championship 2014).

I was called in Blue at the time of the last Grand Slam (2010).

Then we go on with a great World Cup where we lose by one point in the final.

On the course, it's not the most beautiful of competitions, but if you play this final again, nine times out of ten you win it.

The context made that… (He pauses).

This match is the only one of my career that I have not been able to see again.

It's still a big scar.

You also played at Stade Toulousain between 2014 and 2017. It was not the best period for the club ...

It was the end of Guy (Novès, left to train the France team in 2015), the transition with Ugo (Mola), the change of president… I still delivered not bad performances.

The last season, I finished top scorer by playing half the games.

Then, I waited before knowing their decision to keep me or not.

Psychologically, it hit me hard.

But I have very good memories, as well as very good human relations, with younger guys today in the France team and who did not play too much at the time, or with the Hopes: Cyril Baille, Dorian Aldegheri, Julien Marchand, François Cros, Thomas Ramos… There was also Sébastien Bézy, who gauges well (in Clermont).

They are nice, hardworking boys and I am very happy for them.

Looking back, do you have any regrets?

No.

After Toulouse, I still bounced back well in Lyon, with three good seasons, even if I had back problems the last year.

Over the course of my career, I've gained some amazing stuff that I didn't even dare dream of as a kid.

At the time, I dreamed of becoming a good club player and winning the (Brennus) Shield once.

I've had a lot more and it's great.

Do you have any reconversion ideas?

I focus on rugby first.

But I have several projects, especially in the renovation.

I am a very manual person, I like to create things, but also houses and apartments.

So you don't see yourself staying in rugby…

I do not think so.

As a coach, I would have a hard time choosing one guy over another.

But if you talk to me about individual and semi-collective technique,

skills

, why not.

I really enjoyed my time in Lyon, with Pierre Mignoni, where we really worked on the details.

If I were to stay in rugby, that's the only thing I would like.

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