In sport in general, and rugby in particular, calendar constraints have at least one merit: they prevent those who are subject to them from giving them time to think too much. How to get back here, how to win there? Between the return from Ellis Park in Johannesburg this Monday and the departure for the Var on Thursday, Pau set about maximizing his chances quickly and well, with the aim of a major exploit.
Never a winner in eight confrontations at Mayol since its return to the Top 14 in 2015, the Section would not forget everything in the event of an exploit. If his capital points would still suffer from his record of the first 10 days, a first success on the road would brighten his future and his celebrations, at the same time as it would prolong a fragile, but very real, consistency. “A victory against Lyon, another against Newcastle, a bonus in South Africa… We are on a positive dynamic, it creates emulation,” assures coach Thomas Domingo.
48 hours flat
A bit like this training course in La Valette-du-Var, which the Palois joined this Thursday. “Seb (Piqueronies) wanted to do this internship given the week turned upside down by this return by plane, the fact that we did not stay together,” informs Rémi Picquette. The idea was to come together to find cohesion and return to Top 14 mode.” Within a mixed group partly returned from South Africa, while the rest of their teammates remained working on their ranges in Pau. “It was important to find some benchmarks,” explains Thomas Domingo. We didn't have much time to prepare for this match with the fatigue linked to the travel. So obviously, it was important to tighten up to be clear on what we want to do. »
Still denuded, the Section and its 17 injured will have no other choice than to put back on the table the basic standards glimpsed during the victory against Lyon (29-15). “We had matches where we were less consistent in terms of engagement. We really want to achieve minimum performances similar to those of the LOU, with combat, work in the rucks. We must not deviate from this,” urges Picquette.
