ANALYSIS. Castres – La Rochelle: the CO is swaying but staying the course… once again

There was still a slight wave of worry when the Rochelais reached the right corridor and went up a good twenty meters. Geoffrey Palis pushed Teddy Thomas into touch, then everyone sighed. Because the games of Castres follow one another and are similar. For now, it's okay, but there is a point where it will break. Despite the victory this Saturday afternoon at Pierre-Fabre (28-24), the Tarnais once again experienced a lack of consistency, being irresistible for 40 minutes, then feverish over the next 40.

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And fortunately, in the end, this first act was quite brilliant on the part of Jeremy Davidson's men. The latter have always sought to play, to move and to bring out this La Rochelle defense. And also not to let their opponent breathe by playing as soon as they had the opportunity to hit them quickly, or by relying on the wind to win the battle of occupation.

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When, for its part, Stade Rochelais suffered whistle after whistle (penalized 12 times in the first period), and, logically, never managed to leave its camp. Nothing more was needed for the “blue and white” to enjoy themselves, to dare, and these beautiful movements with passes behind the back and offensive lures, allowed them to gain a considerable advantage at the break (28-6) . And to please a public delighted to see such a comeback from his team, with two tries from Geoffrey Palis scored where there was often room, wide (10-3, 10; 25-6, 34) , and one on a perfectly timed race from Adrien Séguret (17-3, 15).

Fanny after the break

Then strength gave way to fragility, particularly in a scrum which lost its dominance. A try conceded at the start of the second act on poor defensive circulation at the edge of a ruck (28-13, 42; Seuteni), and the exits of Santiago Arata, hit on the right hand, and Louis Le Brun, concussed, signaled that things would be different. Especially since La Rochelle, reduced to 14 after the red of Kuntella (51), woke up, offering something other in its entertainment than a passage of dishes. The breakdown in the ranks of the CO (Le Brun, Dumora, Arata, Delaporte, Cope) also disrupted the team, forced to reorganize in great detail – Goodhue even played for the first time in his career at the opening .

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This in no way explains or excuses the face of the shadow of this CO, helpless and fanny in the second half, who, like La Rochelle before him, burst the ceiling of penalties (ten after the break, and three yellow cards), given the stick to be beaten, and could not deceive the wind to get some territorial air.

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Satisfaction and frustration, it's a bit of the yin and yang of Tarn this season. Except that the Castrese, although victorious, do not sweat, and do not inspire serenity. To meditate this week.