Lézignan awaited by an ambitious Toulouse
Carcassonne XIII returns to the Albert-Domec stadium on the occasion of the second day, an opposition against Albi attending the Audois (4 pm).
Even if they have, one could not better, at the start of their season by going to win in Avignon, the Carcassonnais players are extremely suspicious when it comes time to receive their Albigensian counterparts for the second day of the championship, on their favorite lawn of Domec (4 p.m.).
Indeed, the men of the coaching duo of Albi, Joris Canton and Fabien Denis, also signed a promising introduction at home, by overcoming Toulouse (31-22). The Tarnais, who have the stated ambition to finish the classification phase in the top 6 and therefore to contest the Elite 1 final phase, offered themselves a targeted recruitment of quality with boys like the three former players of Saint-Gaudens, Valentin Chanet, Jack Wilshere and Brad Wall, the New Zealander Chase Bernard, the Australian Cameron Torpy or the former Carcassonne player Mathias Leveillé, who will be in a land of knowledge at the foot of the City.
Find Domec and continue to win
Carcassonne XIII coach Fred Camel therefore expects a close tussle, during which his players will have to be extremely focused and precise: “This Albi team has strengthened itself at the forwards by engaging two foreign pillars. It has a very effective hinge and promises to be complete in all its lines. If we do not want to complicate the task.”
Two weeks ago, in the Vaucluse against Avignon, the wearers of the “yellow and black” jersey evolved on alternating current, most often offering good but also sometimes less good. Like when, in the heart of the first half, when they had taken the score (12-0), they then gave their opponents a lot of balls to allow them to return to the match.
These are small mistakes that the teammates of Bastien Escamilla must imperatively erase if they do not want to put themselves in difficulty against these ambitious opponents. A new test assists the Aude players at the start of the championship.
After a trouble-free meeting at Le Moulin, against St-Gaudens, with a great 72-16 victory, which was more of a warm-up, Lézignan moved to Toulouse. This duel will surely have a different texture, with a group from Toulouse that performs better than last season. A detail that the assistant coach, Nicolas Manessi, has analyzed: “I followed their match against Albi. Indeed, they have quality elements with young people with long teeth. The rise of the TO in the Super League is an additional motivation for them”. This team is even starting to have a few foreigners like Max Clarke, a 21-year-old center from Sheffield, who comes to try his luck.
Even if this does not impress the Lézignanais, this first trip is not underestimated: “I am convinced that all our trips will be perilous, warns Nicolas Manessi. It’s normal, everyone wants or will want to beat the French champion. Even in this Minimes stadium, we will have to be ready and expect a difficult game “. After their serious warm-up against St-Gaudens a fortnight ago, the “green and white” had two weeks to prepare for this meeting.
An important match and a close fight
Concentrated on their game and not on that of their host of the day, the Lézignanais have their sights set on the Audois derby which will follow this meeting. Assistant coach Manessi first points this meeting against the Haut-Garonnais: “This Toulouse match is important for the next weekend but for now, we remain focused on Toulouse. As often, we will have to make a good start, be very disciplined and play with our playing principles. “
Some elements will fail in the Corbières group, such as Sam Moa and Dorian Gouzy, the long-term injured, but also Lambert Belmas, Timothey Grandjean and Rémi Marginet. Philippe Laurent, the coach, while displaying a solid group with experienced players, turns his workforce by throwing young people into the deep end, such as Arthur Salles and Arnaud Hack.
At 4 p.m. in Carcassonne
Carcassonne XIII
8. Boyer 9. Soum 10. Simon
11. B. Escamilla (c) 12. Canet
13. Drodrolagi
7. (m) Pelligra 6. Herrero
4. V. Albert 3. Bitigri
5. Gambaro 2. A. Escamilla
1. Francis
Substitutes: Khedimi, Dauliac, Albérola, Rodriguez.
Carcassonne on its guard
Villeneuve / Lot12
Avignon19
In Villeneuve / Lot. Half-time: 6-8.
Arbitration by M. Poumes.
For Villeneuve / Lot: 2 Marguerite (16), Bachoukh (50) trials, 2 Lasvenes transformations.
For Avignon: 3 tests Payne (30), Avis (67), Jullien (72), 2 transformations Arnaud, 1 penalty Arnaud (16), 1 drop Andreu (77).
VILLENEUVE / LOT: Lasvenes (cap.), Bachoukh, Brioux, Marguerite, Nicolas, Monclus, Kriouache, Wambergue, Melhout, Masselot, Dubertrand, Benouahab, Biscarro; Diakhaté, Fakir, Delteil, Escoder.
AVIGNON: Andreu, Salphati, Delor, Avis, Ghanem, Arnaud (cap.), Payne, Corona, Ganz, Durandal, Comtat, Pourret, Bissière; Mendy, Jullien, Sebea M.Lazema, Mezyani.
Avignon wins at Villeneuve
At 3 p.m. in Toulouse
Lézignan XIII
8. Malfaz 9. Lacans 10. Albert
11. Costes 12. Stacul
13. Gold
7. (m) Ferret 6. Benausse
4. Rooms 3. Bonnriez
5. Bousquet 2. Flovie
1. Cardace
Alternates: Martins, Tort, Cuellar, Hack.