Benjamin Puntous looks back on the last successful block of Dax, the derby relocated to Bayonne and talks at length about the last trip to Nevers, last May…
You completed this block of six matches brilliantly. What is your analysis?
This block has been long and quite strange. We missed the boat in Agen (10-20, Editor's note) and managed the reception of Oyonnax rather well (28-15). We took a defensive bonus in Brive (13-15) even though we must win. Nice's reception was difficult (22-19) but the heavy defeat at Béziers (17-57, Editor's note) did us a lot of harm, in a difficult context. The derby against Stade Montois was important especially from an accounting point of view. In the end, this block is rather positive with three victories out of six and a defensive bonus away.
You are from Dacquois, but you did not participate in this famous derby relocated to Bayonne. What is your feeling?
I injured my ankle at the start of the match in Béziers. I wasn't able to train with the group the week of the derby. I was born in Dax and I can tell you that it made me sad to miss this match played at Jean-Dauger! It was very, very frustrating for me but I am extremely happy for the team and the club, because as I told you, after the rout in Béziers, we especially had to put in a great match! In addition, after our two victories last season, we feared the spirit of revenge specific to this eternal rivalry and a dynamic rediscovered after their great victory against Biarritz. On neutral ground, this derby could be tricky.
In the end, the party was complete with a great match and a great atmosphere… You can believe me when I tell you that as a Dacquois, it was very frustrating…
You were on the last trip to Nevers last May. What memory do you keep of it?
I remember a very tense match (35-23, Editor's note). Nevers played its qualification in the play-off. We were sure of being qualified, but a victory would have allowed us to receive a play-off at home. I remember that we were penalized a lot and that the end of the match was particularly chaotic. In this match we received two yellow cards and two red cards and none. This match was frustrating because, as a whole, we could have done something and in the end, we were deprived of J.-B. Barrère, our captain, and J.-B. Singer, a player, for the barrage that followed. precious in front. This match will necessarily be different. They have just lost heavily at Aurillac (10-42, Editor's note) and will want to react to us.
What are your goals for this end of the year?
We are moving to Nevers with the ambition of trying to bring something back before receiving two big teams with Biarritz and Aix. We will complete the block at Aurillac with the same ambition. We would like to take advantage of the newfound dynamics and the state of mind in the game that we saw again against Mont-de-Marsan, to hope to finish as well as possible this year 2024. But that is the future which will tell us…
