MHR – Ospreys: the great awakening of winger Maël Moustin who starts several times and reveals himself in the Montpellier squad

Arriving from Bordeaux in the off-season, winger Maël Moustin has been able to question himself to make a place for himself in the Montpellier squad where the emulation is increasingly strong. He will be on deck Saturday (2 p.m.) against the Ospreys in the Challenge. 

With his big smile across his face, Maël Moustin is a bit of a surprise guest at the start of the season at MHR. Having arrived from Bordeaux this summer, the winger didn't necessarily fit into the staff's plans. “He got off to a bad start with us. I told him so in an interview in November. We had a lot of injuries in his position. We had less efficient players. We had no choice but to put him in. He was on the side of the road. There's not a coach who will tell you, I believed in it”, explains Joan Caudullo. The person concerned confirms. “It took me a while to adapt. I was a bit of an idiot,” he laughs. “I was discovering the city so I wasn't always on time because I didn't know where to park. But, it's okay, I've fixed it, it's better. I really messed up at the beginning.”

It took a little briefing from the staff and a few matches in the stands for the former Bordeaux player to learn his lesson.“Joan told me that I had to get back in line. Now, things are going well. So, I have to continue like this and not fall back into my old ways.”

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

The Martinican has forced himself to find the spotlight again. Since then, he has been starting a series of games. “I wanted to make up for it because there were these little hiccups, he breathes. So, I told myself as soon as I'm on the field, I really can't mess up because if I don't, it's going to count. So, I tried to give the best of myself.”

“Competition is healthy”

“Today, we don't ask ourselves too many questions about putting him on a team lineup. I didn't expect that at the start of the season”, assures Caudullo. So much so that he caught the eye of Fabien Galthié, the coach of the French XV, with whom the MHR manager spoke during his visit to Montpellier a few days ago.

In a team where emulation, more than competition, is becoming a watchword, Maël Moustin has nevertheless managed to make his place, he who has already scored three tries in seven matches. “There is competition. And I think it's healthy. It's what pulls us up. It's important in a team. And honestly, I'll repeat it, there's a good atmosphere in the group. And it shows. We all push each other. We want to win games. Really, that's all we think about”, notes center Thomas Darmon.

“It's interesting. The morning meetings to make the team line-ups. They're a bit more difficult. It was easier at the start of the season. But I think it's a positive for us to have this choice. But we have to be able to continue this dynamic. And not break it. For me, that's the most important thing. And that there are positive attitudes. Players who probably play less and who bring positive things. We've recreated something too”, continues Caudullo.

Maël Moustin, for his part, took the risk of leaving Bordeaux to go and gain playing time on the shores of the Mediterranean. “That's really what made up my mind,” the winger says. I told myself that I have to I go where I will have the most playing time. It is true that Bordeaux guaranteed me a certain amount of playing time. But I really wanted to be part of a team. And then, it is true that the project interested me a lot. The fact of arriving in a club in reconstruction, it was a very nice challenge. I wanted to try it.” A challenge that he is about to take up.

I subscribe to read the rest