Injured but involved like never before. Victims of a torn triceps and a fractured scapula, James Johnston and Thomas Lainault do not spend their convalescence by the fireside while waiting for Christmas, a plaid on their knees. The pillar and the second row of Rouen Normandie Rugby have been invested by Richard Hill with a technical mission, reinforced since “the withdrawal” of the forwards coach Christophe Hamacek. “I was asked to analyze the defensive touches as offensive, explains Thomas Lainault who was already doing it in recent months but less intensively. I watch the videos, I say what I think about them, I make suggestions. I’m not here to replace anyone, just to help the team. ”
The native of Tours can count on the participation of his comrades, more particularly the jumpers JC Astle, Jonathan Giraud, Fabien Vincent, Jorick Dastugue and the captain and hooker Mathieu Bonnot, encouraged to share their remarks in a collaborative spirit. “The players take charge, says Richard Hill and are going to implement what they wanted to do for a while. In a meeting on Sunday, they clearly explained what they had in mind. We have established the schedule according to their requests so that they are ready for Moutauban (tonight). These are the
empower. It fits with our approach for PJ (Gidlow, full back coach), Tom (Palmer) and me to talk to the players. “
The touchdown is a priority project, as it was expensive in Mont-de-Marsan on Friday. “We had ten in the opposing camp but they were all technically disgusting, deplores Richard Hill, annoyed by bad timing and poorly executed lifts (players who carry the jumper). On each key, there were three or four mistakes because we did not go into detail. “
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” The players
need
precision “
Since Béziers’s visit to Mermoz at the end of November, Samoan right pillar James Johnston has been watching hours of videos to dissect the strengths and weaknesses of the pillars, Rouen and especially his opponents. “His analyzes impressed me, the players need precision”, Judge Richard Hill, visibly astonished by the little analytical work of Christophe Hamacek, accustomed to operating in an instinctive register, out of step with the rest of the staff.
The forwards are therefore search engines, a force of proposal, under the authority of Richard Hill and Tom Palmer, who regains the position of coach of the forwards he occupied last season after having been in charge of defense in this start of the season. This week, the Englishman was normally in training at Marcoussis as part of his coaching diploma but he could be shifted in agreement with the Federation.
To complete the supervision of the forwards in scrum, Richard Hill plans to recall Grégoric Bouly, the club’s Swiss Army knife, who was his first forwards coach between 2013 and 2017. “I will consult the players after the Montauban match to find out if it suits them”, specifies the English manager. Unless his management decides otherwise, he wishes to remain on this operating model. “I could go find an Englishman but I don’t want to destabilize the group. I can tell he’s relieved. “ From a distance, Richard Hill will nevertheless rely on the expertise of the maul of Mark Lilley (scrum coach in Bath) who had made an intervention at the RNR two years ago, just before facing Albi in play- offs of Federal 1.
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Front coach, an unstable position
This post is cursed. It is not good to be a forward coach at Rouen Normandie Rugby. Last weekend, in the wake of a defeat at Mont-de-Marsan (3-15), which could well be dramatic in the end, the experienced Christophe Hamacek was asked by the management of the club to be set aside for two weeks to allow the group to prepare for the last two matches of the year “In serenity”. There were too many points of technical disagreement between Richard Hill and his deputy who were nevertheless very good friends before starting their collaboration.
Since 2017, the English manager has not been able to secure an employee in this mission. To fight at the top of the ranking in the elite pool of Federal 1, Richard Hill had chosen Martin Haag, former English international second row who had led the U20s of his country to the world title in 2016. Everything was going for the best until at the end of 2018, on the eve of his second term. A major family problem forced Martin Haag to return to his home in Bath. At a moment’s notice, Richard Hill had leafed through his address book and convinced Phil Davies, a former Welsh international to come and dig a few weeks. He had not been able to carry out his action until the end of the season as he was required to join the Namibia team, in preparation for the Fall World Cup in Japan. “We went up to Pro D2 without
forwards coach “, regularly remind players who have experienced this season of improvisation and self-management. Richard Hill then made the recruitment of a forward coach his priority. English international with 42 selections, Tom Palmer arrived after an experience as a forwards coach-player in Bordeaux / Bègles and another as responsible for technical exercises in Aurillac (Pro D2). Last spring, after a season cut short by the Covid, Richard Hill wanted to hire an experienced French coach to facilitate communication and breathe a warrior spirit into his pack.
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TONIGHT AT 7 P.M. IN MERMOZ
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Referee: M. Rousselet.
Game behind closed doors.
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ROUEN NR: 15. Milhorat –
14. Surano, 13. Lafond,
12. Marrou, 11. Mchedlidze –
Mapapalangi, 8. Fearns,
6. Lebreton – 5. Astle, 4. Giraud – 3. Swainston, 2. Bonnot,
1. Asieshvili.
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Substitutes: 16. World,
17. Guion, 18. Adamou,
19. Vincent, 20. Nicolas,
21. Michallet, 22. Fresh,
23. Clamy-Edroux.
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Coach: Richard Hill.
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MONTAUBAN : 15. Klur –
14. Sayerse, 13. Mathy, 12. Sage, 11. Rooms – 10. Pourteau,
9. Graou – 7. Munoz, 8. Meafua, 6. Augry – 5. Braendlin,
4. Beukeboom – 3. C. Vaotoa,
2. Deligny, 1. Tailhades.
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Substitutes: 16. Tadjer,
17. Commenge, 18. D. Vaotua, 19. Stringer, 20. Chaput,
21. Richard, 22. Sitauti,
23. Boutemmani.
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Coach: Florian Ninard.
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Win whatever it costs …
Thirteenth before the start of the day last night, Rouen is not so bad. But if we look at the ranking, he is potentially doomed to last place, at least 15th, because his three competitors have several matches late, up to three for Mont-de-Marsan who inflicted a terrible snub on him. eight days ago (15-3). Suffice to say that the reception of Montauban tonight in Mermoz behind closed doors, is worth its weight in gold, surely on fatty ground.
“There won’t be a lot of testingRichard Hill warns.
It will be necessary to seek penalties in melee and in maul, three points by three. »
The goal scorer will go to the opener Shane O’Leary who had not started since mid-November at Colomiers. In difficult weather conditions, his kick is in principle longer than that of Michallet.
“Jordan lacks confidence in
this moment “, juge Richard Hill.
The Canadian-Irishman will be associated with scrum half Bastien Cazale-Debat, a bit sharper than Erwan Nicolas on pressure kicks behind his pack.
“We will have to recover these balloons below”, encourages Richard Hill who was not satisfied on this point, among others, in Mont-de-Marsan.
In the pack, the English remover Carl Fearns returns as holder, like captain Mathieu Bonnot on tailgating and Jonathan Giraud on the second row. In three quarters, Paul Surano, recovered from a knee injury, will start on the right wing while the usual center Tamaz Mchedlidze will return to the left, after several weeks in immersion with the selection of Georgia in contention in Autumn Cup of Nations.
“I did not play the last game against Fiji on Saturday (in Scotland)
because I had a small gene in the thigh but today, I am in great shape. I played two matches, one of which was on the wing against Ireland (defeat 23-10). ”
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