1. The lessons of the second block
One is that you can match anytime and anywhere. Two, we didn't match everywhere and all the time. It's the regret of not having maintained the pace that we had imposed at the start of the away season, which we did not manage to do, especially at the end of the block (defeats in Béziers then Grenoble) .
But we didn't lose the last three matches at Chanzy and it was important to come home.
2. The objectives of the third block
We were on a very offensive cycle during the preseason and the first block, very defensive on the second. The goal of the game is to find the right tempo and the right balance. We were less effective in the second part but it corresponded to the content of the sessions, which made the players withdraw a little in on themselves.
It has been the wish of the last ten days to find the right tempo in the content of the sessions. We are on a path that seems coherent to me but far from what we can do. We have to build day after day. That's why I say let's be patient, we're only in year 2 of the project.
3. The arrivals of Léo Labarthe and Peter Lydon
Peter Lydon's profile was offered to us very early on. But we made a promise to Rémi (Brosset) at the time of his extension and to Jules (Dubecq) when he signed his first contract, and I couldn't see myself adding a third player competing for their position. The situation changed the evening of Rémi's injury.
(We talk about the quality of Peter Lydon's game) It's not just that. Peter has a quality passing and reading of the game which are his strengths. He is a player who knows the French championship well, first at Stade Français, then at Rouen where he had his best time.
Léo is part of the Toulouse school with this ability to play standing up. He also has this desire to chain tasks. We are looking for players who we call rhinos in our front five, with this ability to play shadow spots. He corresponds to that, he is a player who likes to conquer, especially the touch, who moves around a lot, and he is a colossus. He ticks a lot of boxes in what we want to be our players of tomorrow.
4. The match against Valence/Romans
I don't know if a team will be an outsider in the match but above all we have to say to ourselves that we need points to continue our progress, that we must win at Chanzy because it becomes a daily need for the people. But we cannot afford to say that we are going to face a team weaker than us. Valencia in its last matches caused a lot of problems and shook up big teams.
We don't even talk about the rankings with the guys. It is better to look at the direct confrontations with the adversaries we have encountered. They put 40 in Brive which we were not able to beat at home. They will arrive with a lot of conviction, it is up to us to reassure ourselves about the essentials from the start of the match to start the game in the best possible way.
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