Dan Lydiate has still not got over the pain of Wales going out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage but his disappointment melted into nothing when he heard about the terrorist attacks in Paris, the city that a year ago was his home.
The Wales and Lions flanker used to eat and drink coffee in the areas where diners lost their lives and even a week later he could not get the horror of what happened, and what might have been, out of his mind.
“The first thing I did when I saw what was going on was check that my mates there were all right,” said Lydiate before his return to France on Sunday when Ospreys play Clermont Auvergne in the European Champions Cup. “Luckily enough they were. When I played for Racing Métro, the players would go out to the centre for meals with their families at night and I knew all the areas that were affected.
“That recognition made me nervy and I am glad that my fiancee and I now live in a quiet village in west Wales rather than a major capital city. The support Paris received was phenomenal, the heartfelt reaction of the civilised world. It also showed the character there is in sport: you play hard on the field but there is camaraderie among nations off it. No game of rugby or football is more important than a life. I used to go into the centre of Paris regularly for something to eat or a coffee. It will be different for people there now; everyone is on edge.”
Lydiate left Racing 92 (as Racing Métro are now known) before the end of his contract because he could not get into the team. He is a specialist blindside flanker but the club operated a left and right system that did not suit his strengths and after two months of his second season he decided to move for the sake of his international career. He joined Ospreys, rather than his former region Newport Gwent Dragons, as he wanted to play in the Champions Cup.
“It did not work out for me on the field but it was a huge life experience,” said Lydiate. “And I am glad I made the move for that alone. Perhaps the rugby would have been better at another club or with a different set of coaches but I was not the sort of player they wanted and that was fair enough. There was not much I could do other than leave but I made a number of friends there and thoroughly enjoyed the lifestyle.
“I went to Racing to play in Europe and win things but it was not meant to be. I am happy at Ospreys and loved it against Exeter in the Champions Cup last weekend. I learned a lot from my time in Paris and, no matter how experienced you are, you always look to develop as a player. Going back to Clermont and the unique atmosphere at the ground is something that excites you. The Welsh regions do not have a good record in Europe in the last few years and we want to change that.”
Lydiate may have been regarded as dispensable by Racing 92 but he remains a cornerstone of the Wales team under Warren Gatland and was at the heart of their typically courageous campaign in the World Cup when they were knocked out by South Africa at Twickenham with a try five minutes from time.
“I never thought we would be coming home after the quarter-finals,” said the 27-year old. “It felt like we went out too soon and it was horrible having to pack our bags that Saturday night. We had all put in so much hard work but we were beaten by the better team and we have to move on. It was hard afterwards hearing people talk about our bravery given the number of injuries we suffered and point out that we had made it out of a tough pool but, as far as we were concerned, that was not good enough.”
At least Lydiate and his team-mates will not have to worry any more that Gatland will be moving to England with Eddie Jones newly announced as their head coach. “I did not think Gats would go because he is settled with Wales and has unfinished business,” said Lydiate. “He knows what he has to work with and he has built up a family.
“The players and coaches are very much as one, eating together and having a coffee. When you are at breakfast and a coach comes and sits next to you, there is no fear that he will start talking about something you should have done in training or a match. It is just general chit-chat and it becomes like an extended family because we all get to know each other on a personal level. It makes it far more than just a job.
“Warren wants the players to challenge him if they do not agree with something. The coaches put the playing strategy together but we are the ones on the field and, if something is not working, he is more than happy to take criticism. He wants us to speak up in meetings and for the boys to voice their opinions. We lost to Australia and South Africa in the World Cup but showed we are very, very close to them. We know we can beat them.”
