ASM welcomes Bayonne (Saturday, 4:30 p.m.) with the ambition of making up for its frustrating defeat against Racing 92. Despite the lack of size of Rob Simmons, unavailable for three months, Christophe Urios wants to see his men be more daring.
What to remember from the Clermont setback conceded in Créteil, against Racing 92? An atmosphere worthy of the post-Covid period? The great Auvergne spirit up until the hour mark, or those six fatal minutes that sealed the fate of the Jaunards? None of that, according to Christophe Urios. At the end of the training session open to the public, the ASM boss pointed out his team’s lack of offensive ambition. “I am very disappointed with the match, and not just those six minutes. We didn’t play the match we wanted to play, by finding the alternation between forwards and three-quarters. I am bothered by those sixty-five minutes where we didn’t find the keys. Our game wasn’t smooth or in place, we were wasted in midfield, we overused our forwards… That’s not the game we want to play! This weekend, I expect this alternation between the attacking lines, our deep field, the game between forwards and three-quarters… Everything we didn’t know how to do against Racing! We have solid crosses, but we shouldn’t just use them to hit our opponents, it’s too easy to defend.” underlines Urios, at the head of a team that has not yet found its full potential with its three-quarters.
Because if they have pushed the Pau Section in frontthe Jaunards had more trouble with their backs. Of the seven tries scored by the Auvergnats in two days, three came from winning mauls, a “gag” situation with the unfortunate save of Axel Despérès, and a penalty try. A sign of a confident team with its pack of forwards, and which was also up to the task in Val-de-Marne, but which needs more madness in its game. “Against Bayonne, we will have to play a lot more through the wings, which is what we wanted to do against Racing. But we will also have to be able to dominate in the middle, especially since they will be out for revenge after their performance last week. The fact of coming back home should also help us to free ourselves.” explains Sébastien Bézy.
Icon Sport – Romain Biard
Simmons out for three months, Fischer KO, Raka back
And to assert this desire to take off, the Clermont staff will have to change its team. Rob Simmons is suffering from a torn biceps and will be out for about three months. Another notable absence, Alexandre Fischer went out with a concussion and will not return to competition until next week, while Benjamin Urdapilleta will return to full strength next Monday. Note that Killian Tixeront also did not train this Tuesday. These absences are annoying for Christophe Urios but should propel new faces. An unshakeable member of the Clermont system, Rob Simmons will be sorely missed in his knowledge of the touchline and momentum management.
In this context, Oskar Rixen could, logically, join the group and make his debut in his new colours. “Rob got caught in a warm-up maul, that’s a bit of a shame. It’s a shame, especially since it’s happening in a position where we’re not very well-equipped, but it should allow others to take up the torch. No one is irreplaceable!” philosopher the Clermont manager. In the good news department, Alivereti Raka, Irae Simone and Étienne Falgoux have resumed normally and are applying for the reception of Aviron bayonnais. Degraded from his status as captain, the Australian center will have a good card to play in a position where Lucas Tauzin and Léon Darricarrère are already making good impressions, in front of the tireless George Moala…
