Nothing like a camera crew shining a light in your face from 12 inches away to coax out a tearful confession
Toulon and France centre Mathieu Bastareaud managed to cry on live TV, admit his form has been in the toilet this season and call himself a zombie and still emerge with credit last night. Toulon were thumped 30-6 by Stade Francais and ceded first place in the Top 14 in the process.
Bastareaud has hardly stunk out the Toulon jersey this season – he scored a decent try against Leicester Tigers earlier this month – but he has failed to reach the heights of a double-winning 2013/14 season. Pressed by a Canal+ reporter about his current dip in destruction, Basta could not stem the tears.
The bruising centre conceded, ‘There are times when you have to look things in the face. Since the beginning of the season, I’m a zombie. I can’t find my form. I’ve reached my breaking point. I need to say ‘stop’.’
Bastareaud has enjoyed a tremendous run of success with Toulon in recent seasons and is in favour with Les Bleus coach Philippe Saint-André. Try-scoring has not proved a strength for the national team, however. He has not scored a Test try since February 2010.
