The last minutes of the first test lost in Brisbane – for his big debut in Blue – had tarnished a game hitherto mastered, and marked by a penalty registered from afar. This Tuesday, there was nothing to throw in the performance of Melvyn Jaminet in Melbourne. The back of Perpignan (22 years old) was one of the major players in a very strongly revised French XV but terribly united and effective in defense, planting 23 of the 28 points of the first French victory on Australian soil since the June 30, 1990. Including the penalty for the feat, in the 78th minute.
“He did 100% [de réussite au pied], quickly calculates Fabien Galthié, about the native of Hyères, on the verge of stopping rugby as a teenager, when he could not win in Toulon. He had a too ungrateful physique when he was young, he went on another path. He regained confidence in Perpignan and it is a real nugget. “
For fun, Melvyn Jaminet’s breakthrough 🤩#AUSFRA pic.twitter.com/gLk9Yv8vNf
– Canal Rugby Club (@CanalRugbyClub) July 13, 2021
Precious on the foot, Jaminet also feasted on the hand, including a masterful breakthrough in the 54th minute, as he has achieved so much this season within the Usap, with which he flew over the Pro D2. It is in Catalonia, since 2019, that the Varois discovered professionalism, after passing as an amateur in the Vallée du Gapeau then in Hyères-Carqueirane-La Crau, near his home.
His exceptional performances, punctuated by 294 points including nine tries, convinced the French team to take him for this kamikaze tour, in the absence of the most seasoned Brice Dulin (La Rochelle) or Thomas Ramos (Toulouse), spared as a good ten executives.
Preferred over Bouthier, Cordin and Buros, three Top 14 players
Too bad if Jaminet has never yet moved to the Top 14. He was offered a first selection in Brisbane instead of Anthony Bouthier (Montpellier), former tenant of No. 15 in Blue, of Gervais Cordin (Toulon) and Romain Buros (Union Bordeaux-Bègles), the other post specialists on the list of 41 for this stay on the island-continent. Galthié therefore maintained his confidence in him for the second test, despite the errors at the end of the match last Wednesday, including the famous pass in the void at the origin of the victorious test of the Wallabies.
Jaminet, who no longer has “the ungrateful physique” described by Galthié but keeps a more than usual size (1.80 m, 77 kg), even inherited the role of scorer. “In the ‘captain’s run’, the coaches took us aside and it was they who took the initiative to let me get stuck,” he explains. To leave the responsibility of the game to Louis Carbonel, that he remains in his match… “
“Frustrated” after the first test match
Despite his inexperience of the very high level, Jaminet was able to digest the incredible scenario of Brisbane. “I was frustrated to lose the team on this last pass, he accuses himself while several players were involved in this huge ball. It was really a big frustration and I really wanted to show what I was worth. Maybe I had a little less pressure… ”
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“Satisfied” with his match – still happy! – Kylian’s younger brother (Nevers back, Pro D2) did not surprise his coach. Even if it’s bound to be easier to say after the fact. “Even criticized, we knew that he needed to live this experience and that he was going to respond”, assures Galthié. After having chained 160 minutes in six days, the number 15 will logically pass his turn on Saturday, during the third and last test match of the Blues in Australia. But, even before discovering the Top 14 in a few weeks, he proved that he had the level to see much higher.