Let's keep it simple: if Rowing beats Gloucester this Sunday, it will achieve the objective of qualifying for a Challenge Cup round of 16 at home. The operation seems to be within the ropes of the Bayonnais (3rd), tied on points (9) with the English (2nd), who must be doubled in the ranking. It would make it possible to meet the objective set by President Philippe Tayeb, and the club's coffers with an additional reception at the beginning of April at the Jean-Dauger stadium (13,500 seats). Not insignificant at a time when Basque leaders are counting every penny, like the second relocation announced this week to the Anoeta stadium (40,000 seats), against Pau on April 26 in the Top 14.
Reshuffled team
The players' thoughts are more romantic. “The goal is to do an eighth at home, with our audience. This is the main motivation, assures captain Camille Lopez. Playing a final phase match at home in the European Cup, I don't think that has happened to Aviron Bayonnais. » Never, the flyhalf is right. The only final phase meeting was an away quarter-final, lost on April 2, 2006 at the Madejski Stadium in Reading against London Irish (48-5). “If we can write another little page in history, it will only be better. »
To achieve this, Grégory Patat does not deny his logic. Priority to the Top 14 and the trip to Perpignan, next Saturday January 25. Thus Manu Tuilagi, Sireli Maqala and Maxime Machenaud are preserved. In the middle of his reshuffled team, the manager records the returns from injury of center Federico Mori and second row Alex Moon.
-Bayonne (3e, 9 pts) – Gloucester (2e, 9 pts)
Lieu Bayonne (Jean-Dauger stadium) Hourly This Sunday, January 19 at 2 p.m. Arbitrator Mr Breakspear (Wales)
Bayonne T. Spring – Megdoud, Martocq, Mori, Erbinartegaray – (o) Lopez (c), (m) B. Germain – Heguy, Cassiem, Traversier – Paulos, Marchois – Scholtz, Martin, Villar. Replacements: Bosch, Cormenier, Cotet, Moon, Habel-Küffner, Rouet, Segonds, Tiberghien.
Gloucester Barton – Hillman-Cooper, Butler, Knight, Morris – (o) Atkinson, (m) Chapman – H. Taylor (c), Tuisue, Eite – Jordan, Clarke – Petch, Nelson, Ford-Robinson. Remplaçants : Singleton, McArthur, Benz-Salomon, Gwynne, James, Englefield, R. Taylor, Cotgreave.
