Christmas was special for the Brivists. It was by message that they learned that the derby against Clermont, a match for which a group had been preparing for more than two weeks. “They had more Sundays in their families “ told coach Jérémy Davidson, who adapted his training week and allowed players to celebrate Christmas together with their families, for those who could.
But on Monday, with the video, the players got back to work, and with a disappointment to evacuate. “I wouldn’t say we’re banging our heads against the walls but …” evokes, with a smile at the corner of his lips, Joris Jurand. The rear of the CAB wants to make a huge performance this weekend against Pau, “to move on and get rid of this disappointment” for not being able to play last week.
“We want to do what we love, rugby”
Saïd Hirèche, the captain, finally back
“We have to put things into perspective, we are in good health and we will play against Pau”. The wise Saïd Hirèche also puts himself in order of battle to scrap against the Pau. He also wants to do battle, because he has not played under the white and black colors since … November 6, 2021 against Racing 92. “It’s true that it’s been a while” agrees the captain of the CAB, “because after Racing, I was next to Peniami Narisia and Thomas Laranjeira (still injured too, editor’s note), we were working specifically to come back”.
Saïd Hirèche had indeed injured his calf. “We took the time to take good care of ourselves, so as not to take the risk of injuring ourselves even more “ underlines the 36-year-old. “And then, I also took the time to recover after a first block which had been super long” he emphasizes. “And then there were a lot of people in the third row and everyone had a good game” he analyzes, now ready to take his place and participate in the collective effort.
A referee visiting the Stadium
Disappointed and frustrated at not having been able to play last week, Saïd Hirèche admits to missing “the reward of the week”, that of playing on the field after training. Especially since this derby, the Brivists had prepared it with a Top 14 referee, Pierre Brousset, who came to the Stadium two weeks ago to help. The idea: to erase indiscipline, “avoidable faults such as off the line or scratching. He gave us some keys” estimates the captain.
Discipline, it will take against Pau, a team that did not play last week, affected by cases of covid. The captain does not panic but he is firm: “There is no ‘must’! We will implement everything we have worked strategically and the result will be favorable to us.” Boosted like never before, the group from Brive went to Pau with the spirit of conquest, wanting to overturn the table, a bit like last year. “We had been very realistic in finding offensive or defensive solutions.” “Pau, when they don’t have the ball, they are less efficient” notes the back Joris Jurand, “so we will have to be less separated from the ball at the foot and make all we have in us fart.” The players promise rhythm and a victory, so that Brive does not pay the broken “Pau” of the postponed derby.