Ronan O'Gara cited him on Sunday among the players most marked by the Dantesque battle lost (14-16) against the Leinstermen. Paul Boudehent did not deny it, five days later, on the eve of a qualifying match, Saturday January 18, in Treviso (6:30 p.m.). “I feel a lot better, but I think that if I was 35, I would still be struggling,” smiles the 3rd international row. There, we're going to say that in this kind of week, after matches like that, I'm happy to be 25 years old and to still recover quite quickly. »
“It’s true that the start of the week was a little complicated, even if I recovered relatively well,” he explains. The next two or three days I was a bit chewed up. I don't want to say anything stupid, but I believe there was 40 minutes and 16 seconds of effective playing time. Obviously, it leaves traces in terms of contacts, play, movement. Everyone gave a lot physically but honestly, we were very well managed by the staff this week. They reduced the volumes, ensured that we could recover well in the treatment slots. Our luck is that when players leave the group, those who return bring just as much energy and will. »
Trevise with Fekitoa
It will be necessary in Treviso, in “a final phase match, given that if we lose, we do not continue”, illustrates Paul Boudehent. Because even if one point can be enough to go to 8th, not returning to this stage of the competition would be a very big blow, especially after beating Bath then Bristol. Moreover, the Italians, who are also aiming for second place in the group, have strengthened their starting fifteen with the Zimbabwean 2nd row Eli Snyman (2.01 m, 119 kg) and the former Toulon center Malakai Fekitoa (1 .87 m, 100 kg). A reminder that this trip less than an hour's drive from Venice will be nothing like a trip to a team that beat Bath after upsetting Clermont and almost won in Bristol.
“For a few months, we perhaps looked too much at others”
“I think that individually, we looked at the ranking but collectively, we are really focused on our performances and winning there,” swears a Thomas Lavault found against Leinster. It's a team that plays a lot, that deploys its game well, that goes through the phases quite well. She also plays a lot on the foot, and if we don't respond under high balls, it's going to be complicated. It will be a great war of commitment and strategy. »
-Having been warned, the Rochelais know what remains to be done, especially since “I find that there is a little more gasoline in the engine this week. For a few months, we perhaps looked too much at the other teams. Now I think the players are interested in doing something. It’s a big step towards the goals,” swears Ronan O’Gara.
Rhule deserves time
Ronan O'Gara did not want to discuss the information revealed by “L'Équipe” and confirmed by “Sud Ouest” according to which Raymond Rhule, injured in the Achilles tendon and knee, is moving towards the end of his career : “I will talk about Raymond for a long time, but not for the moment. He's a player I love and deserves more than two minutes. I will speak out in the future, everything is planned for that. »
