While the forwards piled into each other the little scrum half thought he would join the fun and picked out the biggest member of the Welsh pack. It proved to be a wise move!
“Craig was fighting the whole Argentinean team and I was jumping on his back. He just grabbed me and hugged me,” said Pichot.
The two men had history from their time as team mates in London, where Pichot launched his northern hemisphere career, and Quinnell ensured he didn’t come to any harm.
“It was a brilliant Welsh team and it was a very competitive series. It was very close, but they had a little bit of an edge because they had played together a bit more,” added Pichot.
“We both had brilliant kickers and we both played one dimensional rugby. We had a very interesting night out after one of the tests.
“I still have a picture of me with Allan Bateman from that night. Allan doesn’t speak much, but he was one of the most important characters I played in my rugby career.
“Scott and Craig Quinnell were more emotional, but Allan was a top athlete who never complained and never really said much. But when he did, it was worth listening to.
“The Welsh people were very good to me when I first came to play in England. I was very young, I was very spoilt and I actually lived with a Welsh family who took care of me. That was very important for me and something I will never forget.
“I don’t see them often, but every time I go over the Severn Bridge I have a lot of fond memories. It was a very
important part of my life and I have a lot of respect for that.
“Whenever I see a red shirt I feel very emotional about it. The Welsh are proud people and I had a great World Cup there in 1999, playing in the opening game of the tournament in Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium.”
Pichot almost qualifies as an honorary Welshman have played with no fewer than eight Welsh internationals at Richmond – Allan Bateman, Adrian Davies, Craig Quinnell, Scott Quinnell, Barry Williams, Andy Moore, John Davies, Nick Walne. He then moved on to Bristol, where he teamed up with two more Welsh caps in Scott Morgan and Rhys Oakley.
The 71-times capped scrum half made eight appearances against Wales in his career, losing the first four before notching a double at home in the 2006 series and winning at the Millennium Stadium in 2001. He locked horns with current Wales backs coach Rob Howley in those first four outings.
“I really respected Rob, he was one of the best scrum halves in the world at that time. Just before that first Test in 1999 my Dad had died and it was very emotional for me, but the Welsh players were all very good to me
“Neil Jenkins is another player I respect a lot and I have a lot of respect for Wales and it has always been a very strong country for me. I didn’t just wake up one day and think the Welsh shirt was brilliant.
“I have good memories of Rob Howley, of the Quinnells in Llanelli, and there is a big bond. I respect them and I love them – we grew up together before going our separate ways.”
