Toulouse halfback Jean-Baptiste Elissalde ended his stellar playing career in suitable fashion on Friday by landing a penalty in the Barbarians thrilling 29-23 victory over an under-strength Ireland in Limerick.
The 32-year-old scrum-half cum fly-half told Saturday's edition of L'Equipe that he had no regrets on hanging up his playing boots and was really looking forward to the new challenge of being backs coach at European champions Toulouse.
"I am happy because it is a decision that I have been reflecting on for a long time," said Elissalde, who won three European Cups with Toulouse culminating in last season's victory over Biarritz.
"And also because it is not the end but simply another chapter," added Elissalde, who scored 1,929 points for Toulouse in 239 matches.
Elissalde, who learnt his trade under his coaching father Jean-Pierre (who was also a French international) at La Rochelle before moving to Toulouse, is concerned that changing the playing field for the dugout could strain some relationships with his friends among the playing staff.
"It does concern me that I will have to put up some barriers between me and my friends and I know for certain of them that will be difficult to get used to," said Elissalde, a winner of two Six Nations title including the 2004 Grand Slam.
However, Elissalde believes he has got what it takes to succeed as a coach having been tutored by two of the best in his mind as a player.
"To have had my father as a coach (at La Rochelle from 1997-2002) and then Guy Noves (at Toulouse) has really moulded me in the character I have become," said Elissalde, whose best international moment for him came as France stunned the All Blacks in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final.
"I always replied to them 'yes', never 'yes but'..I always knew to wait till it became an open discussion and then I could deliver my opinion."
But for Elissalde, capped 35 times captaining France three times and scorer of 214 points, there was one overriding joy he took out of his playing career.
"I proved that one could still play top level rugby weighing less than 80 kilogrammes (under 13 stone)."
Copyright 2010 AFP Global Edition
