after their defeat in Toulouse, Stade Rochelais prefers to watch the glass half empty
No, they preferred to insist on the reasons for this setback for the leader. This one was jostled as rarely, like Antoine Dupont, but he won, took his ease in the standings (9 lengths ahead of Paris, 2nd, and 3 on La Rochelle) without leaving the slightest bonus to his opponent. It is not a question of a curse, a clearly non-existent complex or feverishness in the face of a “black beast” but many details to succeed in order to regularly win matches of this (high) level as the Rouge et Noir do. .
Less realistic than Toulouse
It is therefore no coincidence that the Maritimes have suffered more permanent exclusions against the band of Ugo Mola than against any other team in the last three seasons, between Levani Botia and Will Skelton in 2021 then Wardi. The necessary aggressiveness against Toulouse imposes to be at the limit, except that the club with the caravel has difficulty not the franchisor. Here, the prospect of undoubtedly living his first selection may push the pillar to put more pressure on himself than usual, therefore to be less lucid about his tackle on Antoine Dupont.
“We had a lot of unrealized chances, we lacked patience and we lost too many balls”
“On a lack of rigor. There is a lot of frustration, we had some hard knocks but we can’t take that as an excuse. We must be able to react, to remain calm and focused on our systems, our objectives. At times during a feverish summer, regrets Grégory Alldritt. Everyone gave what they had but in a way that was a little too dispersed, not channeled enough, framed. What explains these faults, these balls lost in the scoring area. Faced with such a team, when we enter the 22 meters we must at least leave with 3 points. There, we entered it several times, for 0 points. »
Quite the opposite of the locals: “There is clearly precision on their side, their exits from the camp were effective, they were very realistic. Just with that, it wins the match… But I told the team that it must make us learn and grow. Because despite all these facts of the game, we are still in the game in the 75th. You have to believe in the system, never give up and avoid this frustration, this excitement that makes us lose. »
“It is perhaps our best part in the commitment, the determination for eighty minutes and you have to remember that. On your vintage. But what stands out is our lack of precision, especially in the scoring area. We had a lot of unrealized chances, we lacked patience and we lost too many balls. Against a team like that, which is moreover at 14, you have to master them, ”adds Sébastien Boboul.
Attack escalates
Even outnumbered, La Rochelle was superior in several areas: beaten defenders (22 against 13), runs with the ball (106 to 76), possession (56%) and successful passes (119 to 80). Despite this, Toulouse was penalized less (10 penalties to 12) and lost fewer balls (9, against 12). “We made mistakes too easily, especially on certain rucks, regrets the technician. But the players were determined to put in a lot of fight. »
This was particularly seen with a defense that prevented the Rouge et Noir and Antoine Dupont from succeeding in their game. The scrum-half also appeared very nervous, like his reaction to Wardi, on whom he s is immediately thrown while the Rochelais was still on the ground. Afterwards, he explained it by indicating that the pillar had not apologized when materially, it seemed complicated in such a short time…
And then, finally, there were very bloody attacks, encouraged for the future. When Antoine Hastoy entered, of course, but also before, with an Ulupano Seuteni who has clearly moved upmarket. “We have to manage to have a complete game, we wanted to move the ball against a compact defense with very good scratchers, details the rear coach. We are satisfied, even if I once again hold back the balls lost in the scoring area…” Better to fill a glass half empty than the other way around.