the essential
The OC travels this Saturday afternoon to the Aviron Bayonnais lawn (4 p.m.). A formation which has two high quality openers, with quite different profiles, which the Tarnais will have to put under pressure to limit their influence, both by foot and by hand.
Every week, it's almost the same routine. This one was a little different with the Christmas holidays, of course, but like every time, we had to settle the previous match and analyze the next team to face. And find the keys to countering your strengths and then focusing on your weaknesses. Among the weapons of Aviron Bayonnais, we find its two openers, Joris Segonds and Camille Lopez. “We know that they are very dangerous players, with undeniable kicking skills and who are also good leaders in the game,” underlines CO captain Mathieu Babillot. Like last Saturday in Vannes, where the Basques won (27-21), it is Joris Segonds who will start the match as the holder and Camille Lopez will take over from him during the match.
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Thursday in training, the Castres did not yet know the Basque starting XV and simulated scenarios depending on the presence of the former Parisian or the French international (28 caps) on the field. But what does this really change? “One is right-handed (Segonds) and the other left-handed (Lopez), notes Tarn scrum-half Gauthier Doubrère, starting this Saturday afternoon, for the first time this season. The pressure we are going to put on them is different, the kick-offs will be different.”
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“We are going to play against one of the openers who has the longest footwork (in the Top 14). It's up to us to put pressure on him so that he is as comfortable as possible, explains the coach of the three- Blue and White quarterbacks Xavier Sadourny, about Joris Segonds Our backs will have to stand a little further to avoid being lobbed and putting pressure on themselves.
“Lopez, one of the best animators in the world”
The mammoth kicks of Joris Segonds, 6th director of the championship with 90 points scored, allowed the Ciel et Blanc to effectively break away from their camp or even occupy the opposing half of the field. They are also not innocent of the fact that the Bayonnais have the best occupancy rate in the championship (55.5%).
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But it would be simplistic to sum up the former Aurillacois solely to his kicking game. “He also has very good hands. He had the heyday of Stade Français and we feel that he is slowly but surely bringing his touch to Aviron Bayonnais”, notes Sadourny, who is preparing to reunite with Camille Lopez, who he worked with at the ASM. “Camille is one of the best animators in the world. He is very good at management and with his hands,” praises the Olympian technician. Who may have given some specific instructions to his family to muzzle his former protégé? “I know Camille well but the best way to counter a flyhalf is to counter his forwards,” he smiles. “When the forwards are put under pressure, it’s difficult for the flyhalfs.” The message got through.
