The French rugby culture shock that changed Brad Weber's game

Former All Black halfback and current Stade Français recruit Brad Weber is still acclimatising to the different flavour of rugby in France.

Last year, Weber signed with the Top 14 side in June and has helped carry the team to a semifinal berth against Bordeaux this weekend. The former Chiefs captain says that playing in Paris compared to Hamilton has been a massive culture shock.

“The most enjoyable part of my French life over here at the moment is just the crowds in France are crazy," Weber told Mark Stafford on SENZ Afternoons.

“They’re very vocal as well, it's not just about sitting there watching rugby it's about creating atmosphere, it's about singing and chanting and they really get into it.

“The crowds are pretty vocal and pretty into it and it’s pretty cool as a player, like when you’re running out and you're hearing the singing and the chanting.

“You can understand why the French players are so emotional and why they can get up when the crowds behind them."

Weber has also had to water down his iconic play style, uncharacteristically having not scored a try since playing for Stade Français this season.

“Our team profile isn’t very expansive yet, at the moment we are very old school French, very kick, defend and set-piece orientated, so it’s taken some getting used to, and I’m certainly not picking up as many cheeky meaties down the middle of the park as I used to,” Weber said.

“I would like to run the stats, I genuinely reckon that I have box kicked more in these seven or eight months that I’ve been here in France than I have in my whole New Zealand rugby career, I’m serious, It’s crazy how much box kicking I’ve done.

“It’s not always been a strength of mine, I’m not sure that’s why they got me over here, so hopefully in the next few years while I’m over here we start changing our game plan, just a touch, to start using my strengths, but you can’t argue with the winning rugby that we are doing at the moment.”

The 123-capped All Black also shared his opinions on the Chiefs Mana making the Super Rugby final and the success they have had in 2024 under head coach Clayton McMillan, with players like Damian McKenzie and Luke Jacobson stepping up as leaders.

Weber additionally mentioned the season his replacement Cortez Ratima is having in 2024.

“It’s good to see him putting it all together and being consistent with his performance," Weber said.

“We often say he is exactly like Tawera Kerr-Barlow, I think he is very much playing like that.

“I’m bloody stoked, I feel like a little proud dad watching him go good.”

Stade Français' Top 14 semi-final is this Sunday against the Bordeaux Bègles at 7.05am (NZ time), following the first semi-final between Toulouse and La Rochelle.

Listen to the full interview: