the forwards coach talks about the match against La Rochelle

This Saturday at 2:30 p.m., ASM Clermont, after two matches in the Champions Cup, returns to the Top 14 with a perilous trip to the pitch at Stade Rochelais, during the 12th day. Julien Laïrle, Clermont forwards coach, and Barnabé Massa, promising young hooker, are looking ahead to this clash against a formidable La Rochelle team. For Julien Laïrle, the Rochelais are distinguished by their power and their organization. “La Rochelle is a fairly frontal team. They play on their strong assets, which are physical guys, capable of carrying the balls”confides the Clermont forwards coach. And to continue: “They are dominant in cohesion. They have a very efficient conquest, like the mauls and the scrum. I find a pack of forwards which has become homogeneous again compared to their start to the season, in particular with the return of some injured”, declares Julien Laïrle to the newspaper La Montagne.

A defensive challenge

Faced with a team that is brutal in its forwards and creative in its three-quarters, the challenge will be immense for the Clermontois. “I think defensively they will give us more problems than Leinster were able to do this weekend.”adds the forwards coach. Barnabé Massa, young ASM hooker, shares his coach’s analysis. Aware of the stakes, he insists on the importance of the fight ahead. “It’s a really very dense team. We know that the front game is going to be essential. We know that it’s going to be a big fight, whether in the scrum sector or even on the mauls. We expect to a big fight”, affirms the young Clermont hooker, aware of the challenge awaiting his team against Stade Rochelais.