The scrum has been the MHR's strong point since the start of the season. She martyrs each opponent. She did it again against Racing 92 (21-17) this Saturday, December 21.
He speaks humblely, as he often does. “Sometimes, the touch wins matches. Sometimes, it's the scrum. There, it was the scrum”slipped, with his gravelly voice, Didier Bès, the boss of the sector at MHR, after the precious victory against Racing 92 (21-17). Lately, it's especially the scrum that has been imposing.
On Saturday, his men crushed their counterparts in the area. Again. 6 penalties and a broken arm recovered in 80 minutes, as in the last two outings in Top 14. The house price. “Every other time we get a penalty back, it’s a treat”enjoys scrum half Léo Coly, in the front row every weekend.
This impressive dominance in the sector is far from coincidence. “I want us to see that we work a lot in the scrum”confided Joan Caudullo recently. Wish granted.
The manager can notably count on Didier Bès, one of the rare pure specialists in the championship. In addition, the former historic hooker, captain of the rise to the Top 16 in 2003, embodies the Montpellier DNA desired by the club. With his discreet, rough, almost rustic temperament, recalling good old memories of the Sabathé era, Bès made his pack a war machine in the showdown.
How did he and the staff go about making it a Top 14 reference? “Thanks to the quality of the players, obviously”explains Bès. But not only that.
XXL recruitment
Last summer, the Montpellier staff targeted their transfer window on the front lines. A left pillar (Nika Abuladze), a hooker (Jordan Uelese) and two right-handers (Wilfrid Hounkpatin, Mohamed Haouas). All four are international. All of them are big names in the closed scrum sector.
“All the big clubs have three potential number ones in each position. It's hard for us to choose. The one who is out of the group complains a little, but that's also what we're looking for. We have to make it a weapon, It allows us to raise the level.”confides Didier Bès.
And even without Abuladze for a few weeks, Enzo Forletta and, above all, Baptiste Erdocio, show an impressive level at the left pillar position.
The other Georgian, right-hander Luka Japaridze, has regained his level after having multiple problems with his back last season.
A real pre-season
Called in disaster at the beginning of December 2023 by Patrice Collazo, manager at the time, Didier Bès had to make do with the means at hand. “When you arrive during the season, bad automatisms have been created beforehand. It’s more complicated to correct, even more so when you are under pressure like last year”assures the 58-year-old man.
“This year, I was able to start a real preparation at the start of the summer, with my requests and my expectations, specific work. We work a lot on everything that involves posture, discipline. Then the scrum, like many things in rugby is also a story of confidence”he continues.
Individual videos, discussions before, during and after the match with the referees, knowledge of your opponent, how the opposing scrum works… No detail is avoided. “Above all, my role is to bring good energy. It must not be something suffered, it is very important”. Here is the recipe.
