DECRYPTION. Pro D2: “We got through it thanks to the state of mind…” How SU Agen foiled US Dax’s plans

What if this victory against Dax was a foundation for the rest of the SU Agen season? This is the question everyone is asking after the success of Lot-et-Garonnais against Dax. Because it is certainly the most difficult victories that shape the state of mind of a group, especially when it is “under construction”, as Rémi Vaquin indicates.

“We are far from having successful rugby. We know that it will take a long time for the players to know each other inside out, but we got through it with the state of mind,” explained the person concerned at the final whistle. And, certainly, the SUA can travel if it maintains this level of requirement and commitment throughout the season.

A winning tactic and composition

Even at his worst, Agen never escaped. Because, we must not lie to ourselves either, Sporting experienced a big gap, during a start to the second half totally to the advantage of Landais despite being numerically inferior. But he only gave in once, after an interminable game, conceding a try. Then being very close to going behind on the scoreboard if the Landes striker Hugo Cerisier had succeeded in his attempt. “If we had gone ahead in the score, it could have changed a lot of things,” admitted Jeff Dubois, the Dacquois coach.

Difficult to contradict him. The situation experienced this Thursday by the SUA strangely resembles the different scenarios experienced last season. Namely locals who were attractive at the start but missed big chances, and ended up becoming so feverish as to leave victory to their opponents. This Thursday evening, the supporters were afraid of experiencing the same thing again. Because Agen took the match from the right end.

But, like the ball forgotten on the way by Arnaud Duputs or the first-hand attack and the breakthrough of Iban Etcheverry, the Agenais were unable to make it happen. “We lack concrete results. We don’t kill all the actions,” admits Franck Pourteau. And the SUA could have paid dearly for it. Very expensive even. The approximations seen in the scoring zone will have to be corrected in the future. But, despite this lack of success, Sébastien Calvet’s protégés never gave up, returning to the fight. And it was by pressing on a Dacquoise fault that they made the difference.

Because the Agenais had targeted the regroupings, in particular on “the exterior corridors”. “We were often caught. We took this attempt from Bellot because we were outnumbered in the ruck, but we had chosen not to go too far,” admitted Jeff Dubois, marked by the defeat of his team. Agen played the move perfectly. Tactically, like the try of his scrum half with a decisive counter-ruck led by Iban Etcheverry and Valentin Gayraud. The latter, present in combat, was not there by chance. Quite the contrary.

Established for the first time in an unusual position of number eight, the Cassipontin fully responded. “He is not a big-car profile, but he has enormous activity, whether in attack or defense. It also covers more ground,” explains Rémi Vaquin. Precisely, the number eight was there, after an hour of play, at the edge of the field to recover the ball and send Dorian Bellot towards the try.

Here again, it is far from trivial, because the replacements, like Mathieu De Giovanni or Franck Pourteau, also contributed. “We see that this is a pivotal moment and the staff was not reluctant to make the changes. It paid off and as long as it lasts,” says the Agen sideline specialist. Between an effective conquest, a very solid defense and impactful replacements, the SUA managed to make the difference. And that bodes well for the future.