IThings happen in six months. On April 12, in a Basque-Landais shock marked by a tribute to the legend André Boniface, Stade Montois swept away an amorphous Biarritz Olympique and in great danger of relegation (37-8). This Thursday (9 p.m.), the situations of the two clubs changed radically, the dynamics were reversed. Boris Bouhraoua’s BO has started its new cycle brilliantly and has established itself, after 9 days, as one of the strongest teams in the championship.
Conversely, yellow and black alternate between good and very bad. The prestigious successes in Angoulême (19-32) and Brive (33-11), after a failed start and three inaugural setbacks, had no effect. Apathetic in Nice (29-27), serious if not brilliant against Nevers (22-14), they conceded on their synthetic a painful but logical defeat against the poorly ranked Aurillac (29-33). If they have (a little) reassured in Provence despite a heavy setback (45-30), the Montois are now under pressure at the bottom of the ranking: after this sixth defeat in nine days – including three at home – they are not are more than three points ahead of the red lantern from Nevers. Nine days before a long-awaited Landes derby against the USD, there is urgency. Already.
A season finally launched?
“In Aix, there is a better state of mind,” Stéphane Prosper, the coach of the general movement, tries to be positive. If we had had this state of mind in all the matches, and especially at home, the outcome of the matches would have been different. » All that remains now is to display a constant level of commitment, and not just against the big guns in a championship that is more homogeneous than ever. “I remain convinced that there is not much missing,” continues the former SU Agen coach (2013-2019). What is regrettable is that we are a third of the way through the season and I have the impression that we have not started. It’s all of our roles to find that trigger that will finally launch our season. »
“We have lost three times at home, we are -3 in the British rankings. We absolutely have to win this match”
A mental trigger, but also in the game. Particularly in conquest, where the Montois showed major failures. Fragile in scrum, they lost 10 (!) hits in their last two outings. And conceded four tries on balls carried to Maurice-David. A sector certainly targeted by the Biarrots, authors of two victorious mauls during their last success against Nevers (43-19). The staff is aware of this: “The preparation for the week was focused 100% on the defense of carried balls,” assures Stéphane Prosper. We make sure to correct certain things, to progress and move forward. Hoping it bears fruit…”
The role of outsider suits them well
To dream of a sixth consecutive victory against Biarritz since April 2021, Patrick Milhet’s players will have to be much more disciplined than in Provence, where they collected 16 penalties and 3 yellow cards. Crippling. “The discipline changes from one weekend to the next, it’s starting to annoy me,” complains the Mons manager. We are refereed like a small team, that needs to change. » However, it is in the role of the “little one” that the Stadistes achieved their best performances. They will once again put on the costume of outsider against the Biarritz co-leader, and it is not to displease them. Even if the pressure will inevitably be on their shoulders: “We have lost three times at home, we are at -3 in the British rankings,” says Patrick Milhet. We absolutely have to win this match. »
