Rodrigo Marta, the Portuguese international who arrived after the World Cup, is a huge relief for the Colomers Rugby team. The winger talks about his news with a smile and impeccable French, ahead of the match in Mont-de-Marsan on Friday evening.
They had two tries disallowed against Brive last Thursday, which is a rare occurrence. How was your reaction?
We knew we were playing against a team that came from the top 14 and was therefore physically strong. That day it was raining so we were supposed to play up front. So, when I had these chances, and the referee rejected both attempts, I was a little frustrated. But we must respect the referee’s choices.
Beating Brive without scoring a single try and with so many penalties is encouraging…
We really need it. We lost both games before. And to get into the top six, we needed it. The group has done a lot of good. The mental state this week was excellent and I think we prepared well for Friday’s game.
I spent a season at DAX last year. What about the competition for the Landes between Dax and Mont-de-Marsan?
(Laughs) Yes, many men have talked to me about this. We didn’t get the chance to play against them because we were in the National League but they told me about it. Personally, I have nothing against it, and I think that even Thomas (Lario) and Anthony (Coletta) are not thinking about it either because they have been in Colomiers for a long time. We just focus on getting points. Stade Monois has a very good team but I really want to win this game, that’s for sure.
Aside from the classification, this match is of great importance because it leads to a two-week period without playing…
Yes, this is correct. Julien (Sarout) told us that it will not happen like last year (12-29 defeat to Oyonnax, editor’s note), when everyone was already thinking about the holidays and the team day. So we actually set up the meeting to do things differently. It is a win because we need to get back to the top six. We should expect a very disciplined team, with one of the best transition games in the tournament, a fun team. If I start, I might find Simão Pinto in my wing, who I played with in the World Cup.
Did you exchange a few words before this match?
We thought it would be good to play against each other. We won’t get hurt, we promised each other (laughs). It will be fun.
You scored in your first match for Colomiers and have put in a string of good performances since then. How did you adapt so quickly to your new club?
I like the game system and was well integrated. Mainly due to the fact that the guys are very nice and welcomed me perfectly. This group spirit is important for integration. Then, from Angoulême, there was a test strike (laughs). It’s funny because every week I also talk to Rafael Storti, who has 7 tries in 6 matches. It motivates me to chase experiences. It is a good model to follow.
How do you manage to stay active in the game despite the circumstances?
It’s in my mindset. I always try to work extra in my corner. Every match is like a final for me. As with Portugal, I came back to show my best self.
