The head coach of USAP is preparing for a difficult trip to Gironde, this Saturday (4:30 p.m.), with a somewhat reshuffled team. The opportunity for the coach and his staff to challenge the group, particularly on the defensive aspect, and to see some young people.
Bordeaux, is it the right place to test the group with a trip without too much pressure?
There is perhaps not the pressure of results, but at least that of performance. We don’t go somewhere to walk around. Otherwise, it is certain that we will not exist. On the other hand, we have to be aware that we are going to a team that scored 50 points on everyone, except last week in Bayonne (30-27 victory). It will be improved, even more so compared to last year’s match, at Aimé-Giral (USAP victory 37-30). There will be some rotations in the team too. We are in a bit of the same state of mind as before the match in Castres (27-12 defeat on September 21).
Exactly, how was this team designed, between those returning from injuries and the young people?
We see in relation to the state of form of each person, significant returns from injury by integrating a few young people, as always. So, yes, we are going to Bordeaux with rotations, but we are keeping a competitive team.
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Lorencio Boyer-Gallardo, on the left of the scrum, is one of these young people who benefits from the rotation. Do you think it’s good to integrate young people at this time of the season?
Young people who are good in Espoirs and who train well, they are rewarded. Those who don’t train well, who aren’t good at Hope, it’s more complicated. There are others who are injured, I am thinking of Job (Poulet, center). Then there is also Seta (Toganiyadrava, winger). They are on the verge of the first team. This is going in the right direction: those who are competitive will play.
Finally, seeing that young kids can get a place in the team, it pushes everyone in the group…
Competition creates emulation, it raises everyone’s level. It has always been a truth. Afterwards, it has to be healthy competition, but it’s always positive. There are plenty of other clubs that work like this and I think it’s a good option.
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When you go to Bordeaux, you already work on your defense.
On which aspects of the game have you increased work this week after a victory which was good last Saturday against Pau (11-10)?
It was a complicated victory. Our touch didn’t work, the match was ruined. Afterwards, to tell you the truth, watching it again on video, it seemed less bad to me than live. But when you go to Bordeaux, you already work on your defense. This is a team that is capable of imposing 42 minutes of effective playing time against Toulouse for example. That’s the first thing, with the individualities they have. So it’s up to us to be strong. Afterwards, there are other areas on which we will try to focus. But I’ll talk about it after the match, if we get to see them (laughs).
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Speaking of the UBB individuals, your three-quarters will have a lot of work this weekend…
Yes, but it’s not just them! Afterwards, I put myself in the players’ place. It’s for these matches that I want to play rugby. It’s when you measure yourself against the best that you want to exist. This is what we expect and what we want to see. Competition is everything! There is not much to add. Afterwards, we’ll see on Saturday. This is what I said before the trip to Castres too: the competition and the state of mind are linked and demonstrate the resources we have in the group.
After five Top 14 matches, we have the feeling that the referees are becoming more and more finicky. What do you think about the evolution of certain rules?
Overall, there was a general change in the refereeing with Mathieu (Raynal) and Romain (Poite) getting in there (as directors of arbitration with the FFR, Editor’s note). And, with any change, there is a certain amount of adaptation time. Faster for some, slower for others. It’s like the players when there is a change of coach. I hope that things are going in the right direction and that, in a while, there will be no more controversy. This is the most important. The goal is for rugby to live well and for everyone to be in agreement.
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