ALooking at the tension that inhabited them an hour before kick-off, it is easy to imagine the smile that must have lit up the faces of the Catalan supporters after the logical success of USAP against Stade Rochelais (21-13), this Sunday. After almost two months without a victory, and while many local executives occupied the ranks of the infirmary, they had difficulty believing in the chances of Perpignan, 12th, who nevertheless won in a boiling Aimé-Giral, rarely stressed, and who may regret the absence of an offensive bonus, with several huge misses in the visiting goal.
On the other hand, there is no need to imagine the faces of the yellow and black fans, who know only too well the nightmare experienced on the shores of the Mediterranean, and the incapacity of the Yellow and Black to play (well) rugby when it is also necessary. engage without thinking. It was already worse, of course, on the shores of the Atlantic, in San Sebastian (37-7). But it was already a bit the same in Castres where, there too, they had only really played half-time. There was also Montpellier and, of course, the home loss against Vannes.
This new snub in Perpignan illustrates only too well the first phase of this Stade Rochelais, which runs far too often as usual. Sixth, with 3 small points ahead of Montpellier, he is in his place in terms of his production, with rugby and a commitment to alternating current. Here, he waited for the return from the locker room to succeed in making several passes: it was on the occasion of the first movement made in the opposing 22 meters, initiated by a penalty quickly played by the winger Hoani Bosmorin, positioned at half scrum (21-13, 53rd). But, trailing 18-6 after the first forty minutes, he already had little to hope for.
“The choice for the 23 will be reduced”
This season, there is only the shadow of the double European champion Stade Rochelais which really scares opposing supporters. “There was a very good team against us,” says Catalan hooker Lucas Velarte. On paper, it's true, with 14 internationals out of the 23 players selected by Ronan O'Gara. No reason to hide behind the absences of Will Skelton, Grégory Alldritt, Ulupano Seuteni, etc., then?
“At Stade Rochelais, there are certain standards to have. At the moment, some are not at the level”
Except that the La Rochelle manager is not on this line. “A lot of average players are international, I’ve always said it, for ten years,” he tackles. If they play at Stade Rochelais, there are certain standards to have. At the moment, some are not up to par. There are others, like ''Judi'' (Judicaël Cancoriet), ''Lep's'' (Levani Botia), ''Jo'' (Jonathan Danty), who gave everything for the club and I am very proud of them. But the gap in the group is too big. Some respond but the great players are capable of performing only at the Stade de France or in training…”
Is he targeting Paul Boudehent, for example, whose recovery was neutral? He won't say it. Still, this time, he doesn't take the defeat personally: “I didn't ask them to be at 9/10, but at 6/10. I have a lot of mixed emotions, he continues. There are two fabulous weeks ahead of us (against Toulouse then Leinster at Marcel-Deflandre, Editor's note), but unfortunately, the choice for the 23 will be smaller than I would like. » And since the executives absent this Sunday are not all beaming since August, there will be no shortage of work during the week.
Notes
6/10 Cancoriet, Danty, Botia
5/10 Favre, Bosmorin, Thomas
4/10 Dulin, Berjon, Boudehent, Hastoy, Wardi, Lespiaucq, Kuntelia
3/10 Douglas, Pfeiffer, Daunivucu, Lavault
