In a city of 40,000 inhabitants almost entirely turned towards rugby, the performance of the CO serves as a barometer and the weather is fine in the south of the Tarn before welcoming Lyon this Friday (8:45 p.m.) at the Pierre-Fabre stadium.
“We went through a beautiful storm. We must take full advantage of the bit of sun,” announces the meteorologist of the Castres melee Wilfrid Hounkpatin.
The blue and white ship was still sailing a few months ago in troubled waters and was almost bottoming the rankings, in 13th and penultimate place, when the sad year 2020 closed.
He sails today on a sea of oil, at the gates of the top six, thanks to nine successes in 12 matches since the beginning of January, including four in a row in the last two months. Series in progress.
The reasons for this sudden change of course? First of all the “adjustments” made between Christmas and New Year within the staff, with the promotion at the helm of a new commander, Pierre-Henry Broncan, in place of the Argentinian Mauricio Reggiardo, who has since left under other skies.
With David Darricarrère who replaced Stéphane Prosper as three-quarter coach, Broncan put Castres back afloat in spectacular fashion.
“He took the ball,” says Hounkpatin, before getting more serious: “He’s a genuine guy. When he has something to say, he does it. He’s a trainer who knows how to motivate his troops. Very hard-working, very picky about the analysis of matches “.
“Everything to gain”
The 46-year-old technician from Gers, in particular passed through the Toulouse Stadium and the English club of Bath, was also able to count on his “grumblers”, Rory Kockott, Benjamin Urdapilleta or Anthony Jelonch, who knew how to take their responsibilities.
After having floated for a long time between two waters, wanting to ensure the maintenance without looking too much upwards, the Castres, now seventh in the standings, openly speak of the final phase.
“Now, it becomes complicated to hide,” admits Babillot, who would have preferred to continue to advance masked. “We are in the race but there are a lot of contenders.”
His teammate Hounkpatin, called up for the French team during the last Six Nations Tournament without knowing his first selection, is more uninhibited: “Maintenance is mission accomplished. We can now look towards the top 6.”
The Tarn club will know more from this Friday evening after receiving the LOU, which is only one point ahead of it in the standings, in sixth place.
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“We know that we are in a position to seek qualification, even if we are aware of facing one of the best teams in the Top 14 with Lyon,” warns Urdapilleta.
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