Tarnais and Parisians keep repeating that they want to appear well in the continental rugby competition. But their results indicate the opposite. And this has been happening for years.
Obviously, the protagonists swear no. That they do not ignore the Champions Cup. That they aim, at the start of the competition, to get out of the group stage. Except that the facts are stubborn. For years, Castres Olympique and Stade Français Paris have not sparked. A little tour and then it's gone.
For the Tarn club, the statistics are relentless. Since a semi-final in 2002 – their best result – the CO have made 14 eliminations in the first phase. Over the last ten years, in six participations, the record is not very encouraging: 7 victories, 2 draws and… 23 defeats. With a series of nine losses in a row over the last three editions, including the current one, started with a rout at Northampton, 38-8.
Only 1 victory since 2021 for the Parisians
Concerning the Stade Français, the disinterest is a little more recent. For a long time, the «grande» European Cup was a goal for the Parisians, then chaired by Max Guazzini. With two lost finals (in 2001 and 2005). The long period of lean times in the Top 14 has gradually diluted ambition. For an endless slump (only one participation between 2010 and 2021). Back in 2021, Paris, in three editions, including the current one, also displays a disastrous record: only 1 victory, 1 draw (on the green carpet) and 9 defeats…
SO ? Questioned by Rugbyrama, the young opener of the CO, Louis Le Brun vituperates, even if it means locking himself in denial. “I want to say that it annoys me to hear people say that the OC distorts the competition. I don't agree with that, because we always do our best to win matches, whether at home or away. Certainly, we took 38 points in England, but I can say that the commitment was made and that we did not let the match slip away. It's annoying to see on social networks that the OC is letting the European Cup slip away. I really don't agree. We aim to qualify!”
I think that the Castres supporter prefers to see his club in the final stages of the Top 14 than to see it 10th in the championship but qualified for the Champions Cup…
The pillar of the CO, Quentin Walcker
The Tarn pillar, Quentin Walcker, spoke to La Dépêche. And seeks to convince that the state of mind has evolved. While recognizing that the Champions Cup is not a priority on the banks of the Agout. “It’s true that we have this image, but I don’t think we don’t play it. We have never had the most extensive group in the world, even if it is very qualitative. We're not like some teams who have two or three internationals in each position. As a result, it is complicated to match in two different competitions. And I think that the Castres supporter prefers to see his club in the final stages of Top 14 than to see it 10e of the championship but qualified for the Champions Cup…”
This admission made, Quentin Walcker affirms that the ambition is now there. “We approach this competition more and more differently. This year, we are clearly playing for the Champions Cup. We don't misuse it. We are looking for qualification. But it’s not with a snap of the fingers that we will be able to play it like the big teams…”
At the Stade Français, the speech is just as disconcerting. Before the launch of the competition, the sporting director of the Parisian club, Laurent Labit, repeated several times that “unlike last season, we aim to perform in both competitions, the Top 14 and the European Cup.” A mantra hammered out by the captain, Jeremy Ward, before the first match. “This Champions Cup is very important for us. Last year, we weren't good enough. This time we want to target this competition. We have the squad to do something in Munster. We are here to win competitions.”
The reception of Saracens will also allow us to prepare well for the match against Perpignan, which will also be very important the following week in the Top 14…
Laurent Labit, sports director of Stade Français Paris
It's good to say it. It's better to really mean it. The team composition invalidated this ambition. Many executives – Jeremy Ward, Paul Gabrillagues, Léo Barré, Brad Weber, Sekou Macalou – were left to rest, Louis Carbonel and the Alo Emile brothers placed on the bench. Result ? A 33-7 debacle in Ireland, and two players (Azagoh and Pesenti) suspended for red cards. For a speech immediately adjusted.
“This competition is an opportunity for the whole team to continue to progress. (…) It is also an opportunity for certain players, who play less, to wear the jersey”underlined the English coach Paul Gustard, using words used… last season to justify the impasse. And Laurent Labit also changed the ambition. “We wanted to take advantage of these matches to gain experience and bring home points if we could. (…) We will now think about the reception of Saracens. It will be a big piece and we will try to achieve a result. But it will also allow us to prepare well for the one against Perpignan, which will also be very important the following week in the Top 14…” The priority, logically, when you only occupy 12e place in the ranking after 11 days.
Will Stade Français redeem itself against London Saracens on Sunday? It's not a win. However, the Parisians already have their backs against the wall. A defeat at home would hurt their chances of qualifying for the round of 16. Ditto for Castres, which must recover at home against Munster, an Irish province which does not succeed (13 defeats in 18 confrontations).
The CO to end 9 defeats in a row
Quentin Walcker and Louis Le Brun affirm that victory is the objective this Friday evening. “It’s close to my heart because we’re at home. We want to get off to a good start and regain victory. If we win 6 to 5, too bad”mark the pillar. The opener goes even further. “Of course we have the ambition to qualify! We know that in this competition, if we win our two home matches, we will surely not be far from qualifying. These are the joys of this new format, I don't know if it's good or it's not good sportingly, but in any case we know that we need that to qualify. It was a goal from the start of the season and it still is. And we will do everything to…” And thus end this series of nine defeats in a row?
