The wound is still fresh. Fifteen days later, and even after a week of rest, the third consecutive defeat at Armandie in the derby against Montauban (18-25) still leaves a bitter taste. Above all, it punctuated a second marathon block completed in blood sausage water by the Agenais with three consecutive setbacks. This series puts a damper on the ambitions of Sébastien Calvet’s protégés. The Agen manager also revised his “high objective” downwards before the cut.
With 2 lengths ahead of the Valence-Romans play-off and already 10 points behind the last qualifiers (Provence Rugby and Béziers), the SUA (11e) is very far from the mark. “We are not in crisis,” insists Sébastien Calvet. “But, on the other hand, we will have to demonstrate self-sacrifice, humility and a lot of work. Instead of talking about qualification, we’re going to talk about holding on to all the matches and maintaining this club as quickly as possible to continue building a project in which we all believe. »
Crazy calendar
The famous “project” no longer necessarily goes through the final phases next May. Above all, it is a question of avoiding an industrial accident, while the association’s accounts are in the process of recovery. From this perspective, the Agenais menu in December and January is enough to give you indigestion. With two consecutive receptions on two occasions (Oyonnax and Aurillac in December; Provence Rugby and Biarritz in January), this crazy schedule can also prove to be double-edged.
“Instead of talking about qualification, we are going to talk about holding on to all the matches and maintaining this club as quickly as possible to continue building a project in which we all believe”
During this period, the SUA deprived of its captain Arnaud Duputs (fractured wrist) will have to stay the course by competing against four teams from the top 6. The first meeting this Friday (7:30 p.m.), in a stadium where the club to the eight Brennus has not won for twenty years (6-16, September 18, 2004), is certainly not the easiest to approach for convalescent Agenais who, above all, need to get back on their feet. head in the right place and above all to reassure yourself as quickly as possible.
Back to basics
With a rather solid starting XV, despite the absences of Demotte (concussion) and Ramoka (tear), can the SUA hope to relaunch this Friday at Raoul-Barrière? On paper and considering the dynamics of the two teams, his chances seem very slim. If ASBH has already lost twice at home this season against Biarritz (19-23) and Grenoble (22-25), the Biterrois have just passed 50 points in Dax (50-17) and remain on a huge performance in Colomiers (40-44).
While the club will celebrate forty years since its last title won in 1984… against Agen, Julien Lebian’s partners have every intention of spoiling the party. With this in mind, will they reduce the level of their game after being exposed to counterattacks against Montauban? The fate of this “next match” will certainly depend on their ability to meet the physical challenge of the Héraultais and win the territorial war with Pourteau at the back. To try to close the wound.
The team
With a half-reworked pack. Before two consecutive receptions (Oyonnax and Aurillac), the Agen staff decided to go all out in Béziers by making eight changes in their starting fifteen compared to those beaten against Montauban (18-25). The pack was half renewed with notably the return of Burin to the position of right pillar, the first tenure of the joker Eissman in the second line or that of the young Fineanganofo as flanker, Gayraud sliding into the center of the third line. Behind, four changes with the tenure at the scrum of Bellot and in the center of Muscarditz after the withdrawal of Ramoka for several weeks, the return to the wing of the Portuguese international Martins, and the positioning once again at the back of Pourteau to rely on the length of his kicking game. On the bench, note the first appearance of the hooker on loan from the Section Paloise, Hayam El Bibougi.
