US Carcassonne and Racing Club Narbonnais are struggling to find their balance on the field. A failure that can be explained by well-targeted recruitment to remedy certain problems. But the performance is not yet optimal on both sides.
Narbonne lost three x factors, and recruited heavyweights in front
In the off-season, Racing Club Narbonnais saw three of its key players leave Aude. The third row Baptiste Abescat and his 11 tries, the winger Ambrose Curtis and his 10 tries and the back Paul Auradou and his 6 tries. These three players were the three X-factors on that Orange and Black team last season. The first was capable of overturning a match single-handedly, like in Suresnes on the day where he sent his team into the Top 2 with a double. The second was the team's serial scorer, the pure finisher and above all an unpredictable tightrope walker. The third city had the ability to transcend his teammates with his electric throws, and to occupy the field thanks to his very long foot. One thing is certain, they have been missing from this squad since the start of the championship. Cruelly.
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Especially since the recruitment was done to strengthen the density of the pack. Rightly so since last season Racing was too often lacking in the sector of conquest. In this sense, the trio of Aude coaches brought in three pillars (Fichten, Talakai and Boyadjis)a second-third line (Dyer)two third lines (Timani and Mousties). What's more with experienced players. So obviously, the forwards have become more efficient, the conquest is optimized and the pack is more conquering, but without the three players mentioned above, the offensive phases lack realism. Creativity sometimes. And especially binder. But the season is still long and the Racingmen could find their cruising speed. The sooner the better.
Carcassonne saw two spearheads leave, and promises behind arrive
In Carcassonne, it’s quite the opposite. Because last season, USC was master of its art up front. His forwards did the work, the most important tasks. But this summer, the Cité club saw two of its spearheads leave the ship. First, there was the retirement of the indestructible André Ursache. Coming out of a first temporary retirement to wear his heart colors again, the Romanian left pillar had a full season at 40 years old. But replacing a player and a man like “Dédé” is no easy task. Just like finding a profile like that of the powerful third row Shaun Adendorff. Arriving along the way and with only 8 matches on the clock, the South African had everyone in agreement. And the Carcassonnais are struggling to regain their performance in their workforce.
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The reason is simple, US Carcassonne focused on its light cavalry in the offseason. The reinforcements were significant on the back line. You just have to look at the start of the season for the (very) promising Nils Chaliès. Capable of playing in almost all positions at the back, he has been the leading man since the three strokes of the Nationale. In his wake, center Lukas Doyhenard is not insignificant in this renewal of the three-quarters of Carcassonne. It should also be noted the arrival of the two wingers Paul Gadéa and Naïm Ben Alla. It now remains for USC to regain its sovereignty in order to have a close to perfect balance.
France
Rugby
