the essential
The most used SUA player last year, Clément Garrigues celebrated his second start of the season against Nevers. The arrival of Sébastien Calvet, competition for the center position, Agen ambitions, the Moissac native takes stock.
Let’s first go back to this great victory against Nevers (35-17). Does it feel good two weeks after the poor performance against Nice?
Yes, we were coming off a good performance in Mont-de-Marsan and we were keen to repeat that in Armandie. It’s done. We put the ingredients together to achieve it and we did it! So we’re obviously satisfied.
You didn’t think about it when they scored the first try after ten minutes?
No, on the contrary, this defensive sequence gave us confidence. It’s not as if we conceded a try on the first play. After that, we were able to move on straight away. It’s rather positive.
Also read:
Pro D2: after SU Agen’s victory against USON Nevers, Bruno Tolot notes “a desire to play” among the Agenais
Finally, when we look at the first four days we can say that the defeat against the promoted team was an anomaly…
It’s true that we had a good first match in Provence, then there was this slump against Nice. But we used this match to get a good result in Mont-de-Marsan and confirm it afterwards against Nevers. I think we’re on the right track. Now, we have to keep this positive dynamic. That’s what will allow us to win matches.
Sébastien Calvet is the new manager of SUA. What has his presence changed on a daily basis?
I discovered Sébastien with the French under-20 team. We can say that he is part of this new generation of coaches who want modern rugby and who are very focused on GPS data. What he experienced in the French team, he tries to transcribe here. Afterwards, it is us who are on the field. We try to put in the volume of play and try things. Even if it means making mistakes. Without trying, we will achieve nothing. We see it in the Top 14 with Stade Toulousain who provoke his success. In the end, we will be rewarded. And it is fun to play. We had a lot of fun against Nevers and I think the supporters too. We have found a new enthusiasm at the stadium and that is nice.
Also read:
Pro D2: “I am often asked ‘Whose son are you?'” Loris Tolot and SU Agen, a family tradition to perpetuate
There were only 5,722 spectators…
We can understand it. We were coming off a bad performance against the promoted team. Despite that, there were almost six thousand people against Nevers. I am convinced that if we string together good performances, people will come back to the stadium.
A word about the competition at your center position. Kolinio Ramoka, Peyo Muscarditz, Théo Belan. The SUA is well equipped…
Competition pushes you to be better and perform. A team is always better when there is competition. When you are given a chance, you have to perform. It’s up to me to stand out from the crowd.
Also read:
Pro D2: with ten points on the scoreboard in the standings, has SU Agen already achieved its first block of the season?
Now it’s time for a trip to Valence-Romans, who are last in this Pro D2. What kind of match are you expecting?
They will necessarily play for their survival, so we will have to be aggressive because without that we will not be able to do anything. In any case, we want to finish well and launch a new dynamic with a view to the next block.
Agen has ten points after four days. What is your assessment of this first block?
For now it’s okay. But we have to go and get the fourteen points. They are accessible! If we win in Valencia, it will be a very good block.
Let’s talk about ambitions. Is the group’s goal qualification?
Of course. In our heads, we all think about that. We all play rugby for that. These are the best games to play.
