Lhe Biarritz Olympique does nothing like the others. When the leitmotif “raise your head” is hammered home by all the staff after a defeat, the BO staff had to use it all week despite Friday’s victory against Nice (16-0). Because in the meantime, the club was inflicted with a withdrawal of 5 points in the ranking, causing it to fall from 4th to 7th place in Pro D2. A definite blow to morale before the last trip of the calendar year, to Colomiers. Where the BO must still get its second away victory of the season.
At a press conference this Thursday, the watchword was clear: no waves. “I have nothing special to add in relation to what happened this week,” thundered defense coach Rémi Bonfils. The club communicated at the start of the week on everything there was to say. I have confidence in my management. The club appealed this decision. But it’s extrasportive. »
“It can tighten us up. We should use it as leverage, that’s for sure.”
Same sobriety among 2nd row and locker room manager Piula Fa’asalele: “This sanction doesn’t change anything. We are competitors. Our job is on the pitch, it’s to win. So. If we experienced it as an injustice? No way. Minus five points, plus five points, it doesn’t change anything. »
Presidential speech
Only scrum half Pierre Pagès, back on the field after a month and a half of absence and the match lost at Mont-de-Marsan (33-15), dares to see in the LNR’s decision the spark for motivation additional. “It can tighten us up. We should use it as leverage, that’s for sure. » Before calming down: “It’s always a little frustrating. These are administrative decisions, it is uncontrollable for us, as players. The presidents spoke to us about it, everything has been said. »
Leaders who brought together their flock on Wednesday to try to reassure and above all unite. The chairman of the supervisory board Shaun Hegarty notably spoke, very moved. Behind the scenes, we dream of a sacred union of the players in the face of what the club experiences as “injustice”. And a future similar to that experienced by FC Grenoble after the multiple withdrawals last season. Sanctioned with 12 points, a sentence then reduced to 8 units, the Isérois managed to reach the final of Pro D2, lost against Vannes (9-16).
A berne loin du Bendern
A reaction expected this Friday in Colomiers. In Haute-Garonne, the Biarrots have the opportunity to finally look for points away. A feat no longer achieved since the 4th day and a defensive bonus taken 60 kilometers further north, at Montauban (29-26). “Whatever happened this week, our desire to win points away from home does not change,” proclaims Rémi Bonfils. We got off to a good start to the season in Béziers (19-23 victory). Montauban, we lose in the 85th. Dax, we lose on the siren (26-20). We know that winning away matches is complicated. We only won one, but we could have had one or two more with the ones I mentioned. »
They will undoubtedly all be forgotten in the event of a victory at Michel-Bendichou.
