The meaning of the celebration does not always reverse that of priorities. This week should have been nice and light for the Section Paloise. Already qualified for the round of 16 of the Challenge Cup, she has the opportunity to clear the path and view of a potential European epic. Better still, on Wednesday she placed three of her young promises in the list of 42 Blues who will prepare for the upcoming 6 Nations Tournament.
This is where the shift towards darker and heavier days took place. Because as soon as the FFR was announced, the return of Hugo Auradou with the French XV sparked opinions and heated debates. Legalists will say that the 2nd line from Pau and Oscar Jegou, also recalled, benefited from a dismissal of charges after being accused of aggravated rape during the last summer tour of the French selection in Argentina. This is the line of the French Rugby Federation.
The editorial team advises you
The editorial team advises you
Heavy climate
As for the moralists, they will argue that these returns under the rooster jersey arrive a little quickly, while the complainant has filed an appeal which will be examined on February 10 and 11. More radical, others plead for a more or less long deprivation of international meetings for the two men. A divisive and burning subject, on which the Paloise Section has expressed little – the players concerned not at all -, leaving justice to work.
On the other hand, the Béarnais club reacted quickly and strongly to denounce Reece Hewat's positive test for cocaine, in a press release released on Wednesday at the end of the day. Whether you find it worrying, sad, scandalous or a bit of all three, the affair has really weighed down the atmosphere.
And rugby in all this? Because it would be unfair not to highlight the fine European career of a well-wired youth from Pau who is intelligently supervised by a few major players who came to lend a hand depending on playing time and injuries, let us recall the challenges of this last meeting -you continental of January. “We will first seek victory, then win with the biggest possible margin, possibly thinking of the offensive bonus,” says Guram Papidze.
If the Green and White, dressed in yellow and red for the occasion, follow the path traced by their right pillar, they will receive their round of 16 and even a possible quarter at Le Hameau. To perform and because they were not authorized to express themselves on the non-sporting subjects of the week, the Palois concealed them.
-The editorial team advises you
The editorial team advises you
For pleasure, madly
“It will be a great party (at the Hameau, this Saturday, Editor’s note). I am very happy with the preparation, the investment and the energy of the players in a very short week of training. Everyone is well structured and organized,” assures Brandon Fajardo, head coach as soon as the Challenge Cup rears its head and its baroque format.
“We built on the first three games. There, at home, we really want to confirm our work, everything we have put in place,” explains Fabien Brau-Boirie. If he based the week on the theme of the Trojan horse – “being very direct, entering their spaces being prepared and synchronized, then when we are there fighting with enormous aggression” – Fajardo would like his players to let go the reins: “We were too academic last Sunday in Newport. It's not good. In rugby, you have to have a little madness, electricity.”
The former opener specifies: “Paradoxically, the young people were the most timid. I had a clear message with them: I want them to prepare for a very exciting match, in the final phase, because we built it like that.” On the pitch, the Ospreys, almost entirely made up of Welsh players (8 out of 45 are not), will look like the Dragons, beaten last weekend. The internationals of the Leek XV Edwards, Hardy and Morgan will be there to guide a reshuffled group.
For Pau, the meaning of the celebration will be the same as that of the priorities: “The guys must have fun,” demands Brandon Fajardo. Rugby is a game, it’s beautiful, you have to enjoy it.” There are weeks when we would be tempted to doubt it…
