OThere is no doubt that the SAe Pro D2 day. But just in case, let's go: in its weekly predictions column, the Rugbyrama site suggests a “victory for Béziers, defensive bonus for Soyaux-Angoulême”.
Certainly, the Biterrois occupy third place, three ranks ahead of the Angoumoisins and with three more points. Certainly, they had a very good first leg, building on their semi-finalist position last spring, and attacked 2025 with their feet in torpedoing Nice (42-9) last week. To reach the mark of 52 tries, second total behind Grenoble.
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But as long as we're talking about figures, those of the SA XV also look good. Four victories in their last five meetings, the most recent last week in Aguilera (10-25). With the manner, excuse me a little. And, for the record, an invincibility in Chanzy against Béziers which has lasted since the debut in Pro D2 in 2016.
The Héraultais lost six times in Angoulême, with the only credit being a defensive bonus in 2019 (15-12). Their last arrival was no exception to the rule on May 17. 30-16 defeat on the last day of the championship, in a Chanzy stadium which jointly celebrated the 2014 Fédérale 2 title and the fanfare end of a season which heralded the next.
A qualifying rhythm which is careful not to claim it
Because to finish with the numbers, there are two that are full of meaning: 7 and 66.
7 is the (small) number of defeats for the SA XV, for 14 wins and 3 draws, in its last 24 Pro D2 matches. The last eight of the previous season and the first sixteen of the current one.
And 66 is the number of points pocketed in the same period of time. Brought back to a full season by the grace of the rule of three from our childhood, that makes a total of 82.5 points. More than enough to play in the final stages since the 2009/2010 season.
“Let us not be the first team to give them the opportunity to win here. »
All this to say that the Angoumoisins are going at full speed and that they have no complexes towards anyone. Which does not prevent their manager from tempering their enthusiasm. Even if his players, like Yassin Boutemmani in CL or George Tilsley at a press conference, do not hide that “the appetite comes with eating”.
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-Like last week, Alexandre Ruiz took out the guardrails on Thursday. Keen to remind that “maintenance still remains our first objective”.
The victory in Biarritz last Friday and the 43 points on the clock have, to hear him, above all made it possible to bring a little closer to “a team which wants to win the matches it plays. From there to say that we are a contender, in my opinion not at all,” he tempers. Before looking ahead to “two important matches against teams playing from first to eighth place. Afterwards, we will be able to gauge our ability to fight with these teams. »
These two opponents are therefore the third Béziers from this Friday, then the fifth Dax next week. Two home meetings which should ignite a Chanzy stadium where the SA
Booster shots
A defeat, almost a rout, on September 20 against Montois (19-32) which also came up in conversations this week. “Because this match came after the victory in Nice where we dominated the first half as we dominated in Biarritz.”
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“We use our past mistakes to try not to repeat them and there is a need for reminders,” explains Alexandre Ruiz, who also keeps in the back of his mind “the performance of the first leg (29-13 defeat). in Béziers) which did not convince me. The post-match beer didn't go away. And I echoed that to them. »
Another verse like this, and we would almost end up giving credence to Rugbyrama's predictions. Until the SA XV manager concluded his intervention by referring to the past: “I looked at history carefully. Since 2016, there have been zero victories (from Béziers) in Chanzy. Let us not be the first team to give them the opportunity to win here. »
“Respond present in intensity”
As a good Biterrois resident, Alexandre Ruiz knows his ASBH like the back of his hand and sets the scene: “Our challenge will be to respond with intensity because Béziers imposes it. But we managed to do it, so we must be able to reiterate and we must also respond to our road plan which is very clear so as not to give them easy counterattack balls.”
That the Héraultais exploit wonderfully, like their fullback Gabin Lorre, top scorer in Pro D2 with 12 tries and a master asset with scrum half Marques, fly-half Malié and winger Courtaud of a team “which projects a lot forward.” But who also likes “direct play” with his forwards.
“We know how we must counter them. And I would also like people to talk about us, because it is we who must be masters of our destiny,” he concludes.
