“If the ball carriers from La Rochelle are in action, they make you pay dearly for it”
On the one hand, yes, but you always want to play and help your teammates in this kind of atmosphere. Now I feel good, it was the last break of the season and I’m ready for the next high intensity weeks.
On the one hand, yes, but you always want to play and help your teammates in this kind of atmosphere. Now I feel good, it was the last break of the season and I’m ready for the next high intensity weeks.
Beyond this defeat against Toulon (19-15), we saw a good Stade Toulousain, especially in the rucks and defensively…
I also find. We took control of the game, we did what we know how to do and everything was fine for an hour. Unfortunately, our defensive efforts were not rewarded.
We have the impression that this championship, normally very tight, has never been so tight, right?
The first two (Montpellier and UBB) have a small margin but concerning the other four places, with three rounds to go, we will have to win matches, take bonus points… Anyway, at home, have to win, we can’t spoil our chances of being in the top 6. A top 4? We have to guarantee a top 6 first. By being pragmatic, we must aim for a top 6, and if there is a top 4 or something else, we will take.
La Rochelle is often associated with its “big men”, is this the case for you too?
They have a very good pack, and if their ball carriers are in action, they charge you for it. There is quality, international experience, and we take this match as a huge test. Conquest, penetrating groups, slowing down their balls in the rucks, putting pressure on them on high balls… These are the keys in my opinion.
“By being pragmatic, we must aim for a top 6, and if there is a top 4 or something else, we will take”
You will find Will Skelton, your competitor with the Wallabies (this autumn, during the three Australian test-matches, Arnold started and Skelton replaced him during the game)…
It’s always good, when you’re in France, to meet compatriots. He is a quality player, very, very physical, and one of the important men of La Rochelle who will have to be stopped. Yes, he came out touched against Perpignan but I would be surprised if he was not on the pitch on Saturday. We’ll see.
From a personal point of view, after your double with Stade Toulousain in 2021 and before joining Japan, you must want to add a new line to your list…
It’s clear ! We play rugby to win and I would like to finish at the top with Toulouse. I would love to win the championship a second time… But we’re not there yet, and things are going to happen every week, between the Top 14 and the Champions Cup. I didn’t need a new challenge, but I had an opportunity. One of the chances you have as a professional rugby player is to be able to be transported around the world: Australia, Europe, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Japan… It’s something special.