The effervescence manifests itself in Jean-Dauger from the start of the championship. The Toulouse visitor sharpens the mistrust of the Bayonnais who are once again thinking of a course worthy of that of last season.
As if the intoxication of the last season continued! Bayonne, undefeated at Jean-Dauger, starts with a bang by receiving the champion of France. This gala poster contributes to an excitement that never subsided. “We expect a terrible atmosphereannounces Grégory Patat. But we want it to ignite with our content, with our rugby. It’s gonna be great. I remember last October, it was a highlight of our season. This is a first, there is a big focus from Canal +. Everyone is going to make themselves beautiful, go to the hairdresser. It will be easy to prepare.”
However, the euphoria does not win the group. Grégory Patat wants to keep a cool head. Even damn amputated, the Toulouse stadium is, for him, inhabited by a culture that weighs in each match. “We receive the great Stade Toulouse, not a diminished team, he hammers. The error would be to say that such and such is missing. They have a know-how in the matter when you don’t expect them. Young people know the game project perfectly. Rotations do not scare them. The challenge is going to be all found on their part. Dauger was impregnable, they’re going to want to be the first to take us down. It is the rule. But there will be an additional motivation in each of my players. We receive the champion of France…”
End the meeting well
The Basques are rightly wary. Last season, they also received Toulouse in a context of duplication. The young people from Haut-Garonne had been destabilized by this electric atmosphere at the start of the match before returning in the second period. Ugo Mola’s proteges will certainly have learned their lesson. Just as the Bayonnais have particularly refined their start to the championship. To garner valuable points, in every respect, before the World Cup cut. “We chose to resume early to have rugby ready for the start of the season.explains the manager. Others resumed three weeks ago doing only rugby like La Rochelle. There are different strategies. We have done physical things because we believe that the matches of these first three days will be played over time. Who says match at the start of the season says approximations and less rhythm. The winning teams will be the ones that finish the matches the best.”
If the points to be garnered are in the sights, other parameters will serve as a guide for the season. After Toulouse, Bayonne will move to Toulon and Castres. If he does not make a projection, the boss of Bayonne rugby has set a few priorities. “I want content. I want to see how we measure up against other teams. After Toulouse, our two trips will be difficult, with two teams that lose very little at home. Above all, we must not draw conclusions on these three first matches. It would be a mistake. Admittedly, we want to take a small advantage over the others, but there is no visibility on the next blocks. There are twenty-one matches until the end of March. These are the teams that will best manage their workforces that will stand out from the rest.”
For the time being, Rowing will still want to extend his invincibility to Jean-Dauger. “From experience, this is not the reality of the Top 14, tempers Grégory Patat. Certainly, that would be a very strong goal. We’re having fun here. But maybe history will be written differently. Maybe we’ll lose at Jean-Dauger and write another story outside?” The first elements of the answer will surely be found against Toulouse.
2023-08-17 14:15:17
#Bayonne #history
