1. The watchword: above all, no relaxation
Last Friday, after the success against Biarritz in a crazy atmosphere at Chanzy, the SA , they were good, there was no oddity. They respected the instructions which were not to damage their bodies. »
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If president Didier Pitcho, who was playing at home, was able to follow this closely, the manager skipped the meeting. Explanations: “When you are captain of the boat, you have to put people back on the path. » And to lead by example.
“The cycle of six matches was not over, I couldn't see myself going with them and drinking beers, even if I like it,” he adds. “It would have shown a certain relaxation, a desire to say that we have achieved the objective when, it seems to me, we are still on the way. For the moment, we are not at the stand and I wanted to immediately get back to the meeting in Béziers. »
2. The number: 4
Four consecutive defeats for Béziers, beaten at Aurillac (16-15), Nevers (28-23) then Oyonnax (18-13) last week, but also at home against Grenoble (22-25) two weeks ago.
Four matches without defeat away but also four matches without defeat, series in progress, for the SA XV, winner in Dax at the end of the first block before following up with two draws against Provence (6-6) and Colomiers (13-13), before defeating former co-leader Biarritz (33-22) last Friday in Chanzy.
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Four is also the place that the Angoumoisins occupy before this ninth day with 22 points. Four points more (!) than the Biterrois, ninth.
And there is a strong probability that a team will pocket four points this Friday evening at the Stade de la Méditerranée, renamed Raoul-Barrière, from where the SA XV brought back… Four times the defensive bonus (25-21 in 2018, 15 -12 in 2019 and 2021 and 20-19 in 2023). For two successes in 2017 (24-34) and 2020 (24-28).
3. The sentence: “We worked on coldness and calm”
As the good razer of Portiragnes that he is, Alexandre Ruiz expects a bullfight atmosphere this Friday in Béziers, among “an injured animal: “They will try to attack us, obviously one against one. They will press on the balls carried and put the emphasis on conquest. »
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The SA XV manager therefore warned his people all week and prepared the ground: “We worked on coldness and calm. We will have to show control and composure because 80 minutes will be long. We know where we are going and as we have been warned, there will be no excuses. »
4. The option: three feet to push back Béziers
Mastery and composure come first and foremost through discipline. But also kicking, often a cornerstone of away performances.
Manu Saubusse gave further proof of this at the end of September in Dax, where he delivered a master class on camp outings, pressure and occupation. The scrum half and assistant coach in charge… of the kicking game will start again in Béziers this Friday.
With Ben Botica at the opening and Rémi Brosset at the back, they too, if we may say so, are not one-armed in the exercise. “That's three feet, two left-handers and one right-hander,” explains Alexandre Ruiz who is counting on their qualities to push the team that has the best time of possession in Pro D2 with 56.4% away from its in-goal. The SA XV is third with 53.4%.
But he beat the BO last week with “only” 42% possession. For 134 tackles at 90.5% success. Another key to the match.
