Before UBB – Toulouse: “When we arrived in the locker room, Émile Ntamack killed us,” recalls Sofiane Guitoune

AU end of the line, we guess that Sofiane Guitoune sports this smile that he very often walked on the Top 14 and European Cup terrains when he was still a player. The former international center put the crampons last summer, after a second double champions Cup – Brennus with his team from the Toulouse stadium in which he played eight seasons (2016-2024, 139 games). He is also always in the fold of the club since he now takes care of physical preparation at the training center for hopes and, from time to time, players of the first team. But Guitoune also worn the colors of the UBB (2014-2016, 33 games). This semi-final of Champions Cup in Bordeaux was therefore an opportunity to bring him back in his memories in the heart of the two houses.

The best player

“Antoine Dupont is an extraterrestrial. But in Toulouse, I would also say Cheslin Kolbe and Luke McAlister … Fortunately we ask one! In Bordeaux, there was Ole Avei, Metuisela Talebula. The first revolutionized the hunter and the second post had a crazy speed, he was always there to play and please others. »»

The most mean player

“In Toulouse, I would say Rynhardt Elstadt. It was a cream in life but then on a rugby field … In Bordeaux, in my time, we did not have too much the reputation of being bad guys but today, they have some guys that it is better to have with you than against you, like Yoram Moefana for example. »»

The craziest player

“Pffff, there is not even a debate between the two, Nans Ducuing!” »»

The best friend

“On the Bordeaux side, there was Seb Tao (Sébastien Taofifenua) who arrived from Perpignan, like me, so it was easy, then the beautiful meeting with Nans, Baptiste Serin and JB Dubié whom I always regularly on the phone since he also takes care of young people at UBB, we often exchange. And on the Toulouse side, I spent so much time with guys … At first it was Gaël Fickou and Yoan Maestri and when the group changed, I found myself in the mindset of the youngest Matthis Lebel and Lucas Tauzin. »»

The player who looks like you

“At the Toulouse stadium, I would say Dimitri Delibes who is versatile because it is also culture in Toulouse, but he is strong and is not blocked in a register. He tries things like me I always liked to do. And at the UBB, it’s rather Yoram Moefana but more solid and more aggressive than me! »»

The best memory of a cloakroom

“During the covid, in Toulouse, we used to stay in the locker room for the little third half. Frankly, we started with a few beers, pizzas when we got back at 1 hour to finish limit with the caterer and we left at 5-6 in the morning! We could have opened a box of events because it had become forced! In any case, I think that this bubble at that time helped us for the future, it was a separate period (Stade Toulousain realized the double European-championship cup after this 2020-2021 season). And in the Bordeaux locker room, I liked the speeches of Louis-Benoît Madaule (2011-2017 at the UBB) when he was captain. He had the gift to make beautiful speeches like a little chills and a little fight but above all there were “madolades”. That is to say, small expressions that belonged only to him … (laughs). »»

The best memory of land

“The last in André-Moga with Bordeaux against Oyonnax, in May 2015. It was still a legendary stadium and also because I played my first professional match with Agen against Bordeaux, so I was particularly attached to this place. With Toulouse, there are many but I like to remember the quarter -final of the European Cup against Racing, in 2019, at Arena. We take an entry red (the opening half of Zack Holmes) but we ended up winning after a full match despite the difficulty, it was incredible. »»

The biggest shout

“I annoyed myself a little with Raphaël Ibañez and with all the staff of the UBB when leaving the club (2016). They wanted me to stay but I had this kid’s dream to play at the Toulouse stadium which became possible, so I made a choice. Even if I think I did things correctly by preventing them before it comes out in the press, there were some tensions on this period but I had been able to rediscover it with Laurent (Marti, the president) later, he had told me that I had made the right choice. And at the stadium, I remember an animated discussion with Ugo (Mola, the manager) at the 2018-2019 inter-season because he had not made me play the season before and I did not understand why. Then in October, Cheslin Kolbe left to make the Four Nations and was injured. Ugo reminds me of saying to me “Did you want to play?” Tomorrow you start ”. I’m doing on a big season but I still remember that I was not proud when I got out of his office! And now that I have gone on the other side, I also understand a little more things … “

The most funny anecdote

“In Bordeaux, in 2016, it’s my birthday and with Nans, we are out of group. We must therefore go around the lodges to salute the partners and discuss a little. At the first lodge, Nans offers me to drink a cup of champagne for my birthday and warns people who are there that it is my birthday … On arrival, we drank a cup with each stop, our little tour lasted 40 minutes … When we arrived in the locker room, Milou (Émile Ntamack, then three-quarter coach) killed us! »»

The favorite place in stadiums

“With the Stade Toulousain, I would say on the ground. When Ernest-Wallon is full and the weather is nice for a big match. And in Bordeaux, it’s classic but I liked the Chaban corridor with all the posters. I saw them almost every day but I liked to watch them before entering the lawn. »»

And the semi-final in all of this?

“I will not say for whom I am but everyone knows my answer. I especially believe that it will be a big match, pleasant to see, with a big confrontation but also a lot of game given the two teams. I will be in front of the TV and I can’t wait to see that. »»