Stado: an unprecedented XV in Suresnes to avoid a third consecutive defeat

One block can hide another. While the Tarbais ended their first with a defeat against Narbonne after having lost in Carcassonne and Périgueux while having won at home against Bourg-en-Bresse, a second group of four matches advances before them which announcement just as complicated. Two difficult trips to Suresnes and Rouen, interspersed with receptions from Albi and Langon at home.

The Tarbais’ declarations at the start of the season saying that this National season was going to be very tough are starting to make sense. A level that Romain Terrain was keen to point out on the eve of the trip to Suresnes. “It’s a very big block that awaits us in the coming weeks. Two long trips where we will spend hours on the bus and two receptions which are much more complicated than they appear on paper. »

A speech which partly explains the choices on this meeting. And therefore the tenure of Jon Abadie in the third center line position, who will play his first minutes with the front page after having played a few leaves last season with the professional team. “With this big block arriving, we had to make choices. In Suresnes, we play on Saturday at the end of the day and then we will have to continue directly on Friday with the Albi reception, the timing will be short so we had to make rotations,” explains the Stado forwards coach. Rotations which will therefore preserve Irakli Mirtskhulava and Felipe Manu, who are not traveling and who are kept for the reception of the Tarnais.

Another notable fact in the composition of the Stado: the tenure of Castres Josea Waqaninavatu at the back. “He’s not just a winger,” recalls Romain Terrain. Positioned at the back, it is the usual number 15 at the start of the season, Tiaan Swanepoel, who slides onto the left wing.

Adapting to the synthetic pitch of Suresnes

A choice surely also tactical on the part of the Cabannes/Terrain duo since the Tarbais will play on a synthetic pitch in Hauts-de-Seine. “It’s a special rugby, it’s a rugby that goes fast, with big bounces. These are matches with a lot of turnover,” analyzes the former hooker. “That’s why for two weeks we have been working on the transition from defense to attack and from attack to defense. »
An adaptation that Suresnes has mastered perfectly, even though they lost their last home match against Albi (13-10).

Fierce opposition therefore awaits the Tarbais, who will have to, as since the start of the season, play hard. “Suresnes is a team which scores a lot of points, but it is also a team which concedes a lot of points. This is what we made the players understand. We have to be organized in defense because they are very, very good in disorder. Conversely, in attack, we will have to make the extra pass to go wide because they are very dense in the middle of the field. “We need to be efficient in playing while standing in the middle of the field to be able to go into the lanes and find openings in two steps,” explains the forwards coach.

With two trips to zero points since the start of the season, the time has come to bring back points for the Tarbais in order not to fall even further in the standings. “We have to progress and take points,” says Romain Terrain. The championship is so dense, everything depends on details. The watchword is concentration to recover the points needed to advance in the rankings. »

No more encouraging defeats, the Tarbais must go second and not third.