“Our objective is to validate this victory with another victory in Perpignan. Our intention is to go there to take four or five points. As soon as the success against Castres was confirmed, Michael Ruru immediately switched to the next objective.
It must be said that this trip to Catalan country could be the first turning point in RC Vannes' season in the Top 14.
In the event of a victory, the RCV would most likely escape from last place at the end of the first block of nine matches. Conversely, a defeat would relegate the Morbihannais to at least six points behind the USAP, in the event of a defensive bonus.
Because Perpignan, the penultimate budget of the elite just ahead of Vannes, is surely the main competitor for maintenance. And he is preparing to receive the Bretons handicapped by 14 injuries (Tuilagi, Dubois, McIntyre, van Tonder, Sobela…) and one suspension (Naqalevu).
“The opportunity to successfully complete the block
This is a great opportunity to score a first away victory in the Top 14. “We have the opportunity to succeed in the block, very clearly, compared to what we could estimate at the start of the season,” confided Jean -Noël Spitzer at a press conference. For now, I think we've done the minimum to not be let down. And in this logic of staying in the race, indeed, we still need to win.
Even if in Aimé-Giral, pushed by a lively public, the people of Perpignan are used to sublimating themselves. They have won 13 of their last 15 Top 14 matches there. RC Vannes have never won there, losing on their four visits to Pro D2.
“They came up not so long ago and so perhaps they respect us more than other clubs,” continued the Breton manager. We could have carried out the hold-up at the Stade Français because, I think, they lacked consideration for us, they were not in a state of vigilance. I don't think this will be the case in Perpignan.
“A team renowned for its toughness”
“It’s a team renowned for its toughness, for its combat, for its aggressiveness,” explained Karl Chateau, who played for USAP between 2013 and 2021. Even more so when they are in this situation (13th in Top 14), they accentuate these characteristics. If we let them, we could be in for a big disappointment.
The Vannes residents have been warned. We will have to respond to the intensity imposed by the Catalans. We could fear fatigue for this ninth, and final, match of the first block and a week after the enormous burst of energy against Castres. But Spitzer refuted this possibility. “I don't feel tired. The players came out of the match against Castres damaged but we only resumed on Tuesday to regenerate. And there are very few players we feel like we've taken a shot at so far. »
There will therefore be no excuse for the people of Vannes, aware that there is an opportunity to make a big impact.
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