Maxime Raulinupdated on October 8, 2022 at 00:05
Four starts, four victories and three tries : Matthis Lebel 's efficiency is shown in a few figures, which summarize his ideal beginning of the season for the Stade Toulousain. The winger scored in Bordeaux (25-26), against Toulon (28-8) and in front of Racing 92 (37-10), and if he did not score a try in Montpellier, he still contributed greatly to the victory of his team (17-19) in Hérault.
This punchy start, only interrupted by a rest at Pau (26-16), is in line with his end of season performance. He scored five tries in May and June, one in the Top 14 semi-finals against Castres and two doubles (Munster and Biarritz). Then the 23 year old Toulousan distinguished himself during the summer tour with the French team with a try in each of the two victories over Japan. I don't dwell on statistics," says Matthis Lebel, , whom we met in Toulouse. My main objective is to be productive for the team.
An eight-month dearth
The French winger (4 caps) has however lived a desert crossing last year. While he was coming out of a full 2020-2021 season, with 15 tries scored (13 in the Top 14, 2 in the European Cup) and a Championship-Champions Cup double won with his club, Lebel had then scored only two tries in eight months during the 2021-2022 exercise. "I was not obsessed by that, still sweeps the Toulouse man. It's true that I saw the comments, the questions about the fact that I was not scoring anymore. It was long, a beautiful gap (he smiles). But I never doubted. I was scoring in training, there was no doubt. The feelings were good. I was just frustrated not to be able to finish in a match. But if I played (24 starts out of a possible 34), even without scoring, it's because I was still contributing to the team and that the staff was satisfied with my production and my performances. Finally, my two trials in Japan with Les Bleus sounded like an answer.
Like many young players, Matthis Lebel has undoubtedly suffered the backlash of his explosion at the highest level. He was inevitably scrutinized and expected. "My ex-teammates Maxime Médard and Yoann Huget had warned me, reveals Lebel. When you have a good season, you have to confirm it. I would like to score 13 tries every season, but it's not that easy. Yoann sent me messages last year when I was scoring less. He was convinced that it would come back."
"I take from each of my teammates while keeping my uniqueness."