Surprised by Vannes at Deflandre before subduing the co-leaders of the English championship (Bath and Bristol) in the Champions Cup, Brice Dulin’s Rochelais plunged back into the Top 14 with the firm desire to maintain the budding momentum.
What assessment do you draw from this European fortnight?
The positive point is that we are finding a good rhythm, whether collectively or individually, there have been good things. We came out with a good number of points taken (9) for the Champions Cup but that was put aside. Now, we dive back into the championship. Clermont had some great encounters too, they have really managed to get their rugby back over the past month. So it’s going to be a tough match, because they’re coming up with some interesting things. And we find defensive rhythm which allows us to better express ourselves behind when we lock down these teams.
Does this match scheduled every year before Christmas have a special taste, before leaving to enjoy it with the family?
Above all, we want to stay on the pace we have found over the past two weeks. Regardless of the players on the field, we manage to remain active and efficient. With players who do their job in the best possible way and we see that, collectively, we are doing better. I repeat, but December-January are the two months that allow you to switch, or not, to the good side. The teams that come to us (Clermont, Toulouse and Leinster) over the coming weeks are confident and offer great rugby. It’s hitting hard too, it’s really a mix of all that, so it will allow us, too, to gain strength gradually.
Considering the performances of the Clermont forwards against Leinster and those of La Rochelle against Bristol, does the back triangle of which you are a part expect to be a little unemployed on Saturday?
We don’t know, it will depend on what the weather has in store for us that day. But we know it’s going to be a big fight. Clermont, also through the manager, brings a lot of fight. And aggressive, in a good way. They have powerful players who like to fight on the pitch. Both teams arrive with real confidence. But our goal is to focus on what we are capable of achieving, to gain strength once again, and to be much more regular, to continue to excel on our strengths.
It is better to respond from the start to show that we are going to lock down the match
La Rochelle knows Leinster better than anyone, you probably measure Clermont’s latest performance better than anyone. Even if ASM did not take a bonus (15-7 defeat), it had been seven years since Leinster had won a home match without taking the bonus, in the group stage…
This is not surprising given the recent outings of this team. We know their abilities and above all, they have regained a rhythm and confidence too. Often when there are dips in a team’s rhythm, it’s not due to a lack of player skill, it’s just a lack of confidence. There, they found it again, this confidence, they found this appetite to defend well, to exploit turnover balls. We really know that we are going to have to play a full match and do things in the right order so as not to let them gain confidence. We know that, behind, when a team which bases its game on the physical challenge gains confidence, they really start to carry the ball harder and harder, to try to hurt us defensively. It’s the game every weekend but, especially against teams like that, it’s better to be present from the start to show that we are going to lock down the match.
You found Deflandre last Saturday but isn’t it in this match against Clermont that we should settle the defeat of November 30 against Vannes (14-23)?
If we think back to what happened three weeks before each time there is a little hitch, we don’t move forward… The team reacted well, we move back to the Top 14, of course, but the most important is to continue our growth. We must not overdo what has been done over the last two weeks against teams who played good rugby. Our team responded well. There was a little turnover. Everyone shows that we arrive with confidence now. You have to pay yourself, you have to continue to make the necessary efforts so that the emulation of the group continues to work. Here, we really have to focus on ourselves, because what happens next will depend once again on what we can control and produce. If we can do things the way we want, with the intensity we want, we won’t have any more problems like we had three weeks ago.
Has the decision regarding your future – career termination in June 2025, one-year extension at La Rochelle or change of club – been made?
Do you see Ronan (O’Gara, the manager of La Rochelle, Editor’s note) afterwards or not? Ask him, he’s the boss (smile). No, there is nothing concrete yet. There are exchanges, but nothing certain. Ask Ronan at a press conference, he will tell you.
