The Catalan second row, absent since the end of preparation due to a shoulder injury, will be back with the blood and gold jersey this Saturday in Bordeaux (4:30 p.m.). A boon to continue to advance the conquest of the USAP.
The sharpest eyes were able to see a return to Aimé-Giral’s pitch last weekend, against Pau (11-10 victory). A brief return, but one that counts. Mathieu Tanguy, in fact, warmed up with the group and finished his preparation with the additional players, going back and forth on the half court. Finally.
Because, since the resumption of the USAP and the first friendly matches, the second row has never been able to put on the blood and gold jersey. More than a month and a half of waiting linked to complications with his shoulder. “During the week of the first friendly match in Toulon (August 23, Editor’s note) I had an acromio (injury at the shoulder joint, between the scapula and the collarbone), says Mathieu Tanguy. Afterwards, it took me a while to recover because there were complications and pain that bothered me. But now it’s better.”
His objective: to remain dominant in front
The man who made 23 appearances last season with the USAP had some time. And for good reason, Adrien Warion then So’otala Fa’aso’o took over as interim manager. Whether as a starter or an impact player. But, now, the return of Mathieu Tanguy is timely. Because Posolo Tuilagi has been injured in the meantime. Then because the two Catalans mentioned have played five matches in a row, including three as starters. And this trip, oh so difficult to Bordeaux (Saturday at 4:30 p.m.), seems to be a great opportunity to give some organizations a break. It’s up to Mathieu Tanguy, therefore, to find his place in this collective. “I started training again last week and all I want to do is just play rugbyhe says. My integration into this group after five matches will be simple, I just need to find some rhythm, first of all, and be able to contribute what I can.”
We lack, I think, the requirement, the concentration.
This will inevitably be an important return to the meadow. Experienced, the one who was at the head of the fight last year during the good period of the USAP from January 2024, will only be able to bring stability to a sometimes irregular Catalan conquest to regain what had the strength blood and gold at the end of last season. “Being very dominant up front is an aspect that I like in rugby. And I’m trying to do my bit to ensure that the group performs in this area“, confides Mathieu Tanguy, who also points out shortcomings in this sector of play. “We base ourselves on our conquest because we know that it is essential in modern rugby to be able to have an impact on the opponent and on our game. But I think that today, we are lacking a little in regularity in this area, I think, we cannot be successful in several meetings in a row. We lack, I think, the demands and the concentration. during the week. Today, nothing has ever been acquired.”
Even in Bordeaux, in a Chaban-Delmas which vibrates for the flights of its three-quarter line, the forwards will have their say. “To be able to have such a dominant three-quarter line, they rely on a conquering package”does not fail to recall the second blood and gold line. Consequence: “We will have to be strong in conquest. The less they have the ball, the less danger we are in. So we will have to have a big conquest to be able to hold the ball and for it to be simpler. Otherwise, frankly, without conquest, it will be fine be long. We risk running for 60 minutes”insists Mathieu Tanguy. And it’s not to displease him. Him, the jumper, tackler and always so valuable in the rucks. In short, a real fighter’s return.
