Last week’s defeat did not deter the Graulhétois, who will now try their luck in Rennes, in a championship where « anyone can win against anyone. » A victory this Saturday would revive the SCG.
« I cannot reword »
Until then, everything seemed to be going well. « We had still forgotten 9 points with our kicks. Then we started to lose our lineouts, drop the ball, release our defensive pressure, and show difficulties in moving and repositioning. During the last quarter of an hour, we completely lack control and display collective discouragement! And maybe people didn’t notice, but we changed our center pairing four times. »
Un esprit revanchard
N’en jetez plus la cour est pleine. À la sortie, autant de lacunes dont le cumul ne pardonne que très rarement dans ce sport. Et une impression, « celle que cette saison, tout le monde va pouvoir gagner chez tout le monde. » Rassurant avant de se déplacer à Rennes, chez un ancien pensionnaire de Nationale ? « Nous y allons avec un esprit revanchard. Limoges, c’est soldé, Saint-Jean aussi, et nous avons des points à rattraper. Nous respectons tout le monde, mais en Bretagne, nous jouons déjà notre va-tout ! »
The Rennais will also have to reassure themselves, after two defeats – away – in the first two matches. « They have kept quite a few players from last season. It’s a quality team that has lost narrowly twice. We will come up against an electrified team, playing at 110% », Florian Gimbergues envisions, hoping that his team will also raise the bar of determination driven by the need for a reaction.
Les Graulhétois perdent cependant Pueyo, Tatre, Portes et Mousset. Mara et Gilbert seront au repos quand Benard est avec les Barbarians à VII (Planès retenu professionnellement). Magne, Durand, Ducombs, Laheurte, Tarin, Soulisse et Tignères réintègrent le groupe.
