Whether in Toulon, in 3rd, or in La Rochelle, in 6th, the observation was essentially the same this week. Between the first two of the Top 14 – Stade Toulousain and UBB – and the others, the difference is on the more “killer” side of the two clubs on the edge of the Garonne. But also on their ability to travel well, whatever the group in the luggage.
The success of the Bordelo-Béglais in Castres on December 21 and the draw of the Rouge et Noir in Lyon the next day, each time without several internationals, confirm this, both shine away (3 victories and 2 bonuses away for the Girondins, 4 successes, 1 draw and 3 bonuses for the Haut-Garonnais). Enough to leave Stade Rochelais wondering, which has only won once (at Créteil, against Racing) and brought back only one bonus (at Castres) outside of Marcel-Deflandre. So far from his 31 points taken on trips in 2022-2023…
“It’s not enough”
“We have to call a spade a spade, we’re not going to hide,” admits Judicaël Cancoriet. It's up to us to raise our level to try to grab points and move up the rankings. We tell ourselves, it’s not enough. If we want to achieve our goals, we have to be better, we have to put the church back in the middle of the village and we have to be the kind of team that wins away from home. »
“We tell ourselves, it’s not enough. If we want to achieve our goals, we have to be better outside.”
Also, this match at the 12th (which has not won since November 2 against Vannes) will be significant. Because no one, despite a series of three successes since the rout at home against the promoted Breton (14-23), has forgotten this affront. If Ronan O'Gara's troop raised their heads in the Champions Cup in Bath then against Bristol before holding on at home against ASM, it was in Catalonia, in a sold-out and heated Aimé-Giral blank, that we will see if the Rochelais are ready to roll up their sleeves in all weather, on all terrains.
Hold for eighty minutes
Especially when Will Skelton or Grégory Alldritt are absent. Because on the other hand, the unavailable players will be legion but the USAP, under pressure, will give everything. “We know it,” agrees Cancoriet. Going to Perpignan is a very, very big test. It's a big team, and they have a lot of push behind them. » Is this Stade Rochelais mentally equipped for this challenge, whose specialty, for several seasons, has been to revive clubs in full doubt?
“We don’t talk about the opponents,” says Joel Sclavi. Instead, we try to talk about ourselves all the time. Our last away match was complicated (28-24 defeat at Castres, Editor's note), we only played half-time. Like against Clermont. At the moment, we can't play full matches. We try to work more, put more pressure. Training is hard: today (Thursday), it was competition, there were tackles, it was good. We did long sequences, we will try to do the same thing on Sunday. » In a much hotter context, this would be an opportunity to return to first class.
