Tarbes-Dijon, Saturday at 7:00 p.m. in Trélut
Dijon as a conqueror
Dijon quickly digested its failure of the first day against Albi (17-28). The reasons for this failure were not due to a lack of commitment and intensity but to too many balls lost in conquest or in the game. Despite the rather significant gap in the score, the Dijonnais are not fell back in their crossing last year and they were able to react quickly to Soyaux-Angoulême. After this bitter failure, the Dijonnais won (16-20) in an opponent who came from Pro D2. A victory snatched at the very end of the match by two tries (77th, 80 + 2) against a revenge from Soyaux-Angoulême after his defeat at Tarbes in stoppage time. The Burgundians then confirmed their recovery against Bourgoin (19-16) in difficult weather conditions, in the fight of a tough match and a hard fight forwards. And this despite many absences and three young players left on the bench.
Ambitious Dijon people
The Dijonnais, reassured by these two consecutive victories at Soyaux-Angoulême come to Tarbes without complex. Coach Tom Paterson, who played against TPR in Pro D2 with Auch, Limoges and Oyonnax, however knows where he will set foot. “It’s a team that is ambitious like us and that aims for the top of the table. Personally, I have played against them several times and it is a team, especially at home, which is very, very, hard to play. “ At a press conference, Tom Paterson and pillar Joseph Sproston, in self-confident good English, announced the color. They come to win and do not intend to return empty-handed from a long 24 hour round trip by bus. The two Britons expect a big fight in front for 80 minutes and they say they are ready to win, as against Bourgoin, the “Arm wrestling”, against a strong Tarbaise team. “We’re ready for that” assures the coach. Without tongue in cheek, Tom Paterson revealed that they had studied the strengths and weaknesses of this Tarbes team well and that they were well prepared. “On the ambition to do something chosen there. We are not going there to have a little game. We are all motivated and we prepared well for it. We adopted each other well, and we will try to put the ingredients to do something chosen there. ” Ingredients that they knew how to put in Soyaux-Angoulême and against Bourgoin and that they intend to serve again in Bigorre. This match, as always, will be played in front and the conquest will be essential. Tom Paterson summarizes it this way. “A match is won in front and three quarters make the score. “ Dijon is a playful team and like Tarbes it has kept a continuity of play by retaining the majority of its three-quarters. In addition, their playing masters Mieres and Fuentes, absent so far, will make their entry into Trélut. A guarantee of serenity for a team rather than young which has seven Hopes lined up in its last matches.
Return of Fuentes and Mieres, absences of Sandpiper and Desbordes
Compared to the winning group of Bourgoin, behind, Odiete and Alonso, are replaced by Fuentes and Mieres, who missed the first three meetings. In front of Bécasseau, present in the first two games, will be absent, replaced by Vermont who will make his National debut. Fromenteze replaces Desbordes, who started in the three previous matches. This Group proves that the people of Dijon are not doing the deadlock and have targeted this trip to Bigorre, as announced at a press conference.
The Group of Twenty-five
Fifteen Before: Tabarot, Nehme, Vermont, Brou, Certain, Sproston, Jamet, Alarcon, Paul, Fromenteze, Kafotamaki, Amiot, Majola, Lebian, Grégoire
Ten Backs : Dufau, Kuzioleck, Garnier, Mieres, Fuentes, Liabot, Conduche, Hartman, Caramel, Altier
Jean-Jacques Lasserre