Two points is good for Biarritz Olympique. Party this Thursday, September 15 in Burgundy with the firm intention of bringing back the victory of Nevers, and thus compensate for the defeat at home last week against Mont-de-Marsan, the soundtrack went to seek the draw after the siren, with forceps , so as not to return empty-handed. In a globally choppy match, punctuated by approximation and indiscipline on both sides, the draw seems logical, as neither team seemed to be really above the other over the 80 minutes of the match.
The two teams are obliged to share the points. A lesser evil for Biarritz, which could have hoped for better, but which could also very well have returned empty from the Pré Fleurilike the defeat against Vannes two weeks ago, in a similar numerical superiority scenario.
The reactions :
Baptiste Erdocio (pillar): “We had a little pride, we left at the end of the day to look for this draw, so we are happy with that, but we must not be satisfied with it either, we had intentions of victory, we are leaving with two points but we lose two, as much as Nevers. It’s not a victory, we are a little mixed, even if it’s good to take points. This will help us prepare for the Carcassonne reception, that’s for sure. We will have to try to stop making the mistakes we have been making since the start of the season. This match, I think it could be a small trigger, but we must not get carried away either, we must stay with our feet on the ground and continue to work on our weak points. Compared to the leaders, we all have our say in the locker room, no one censures themselves. Of course, we have our captain Guy Millar, combat leader, who we will follow until the end, just as the spine is automatically leader, but it is not because we are not captain that we do not speak. There are 23 leaders on the field.“
Auguste Cadot (centre): “We necessarily said to ourselves that, at 15 against 14, we had to play our match, but it was not because they took a red card that we thought about Vannes, that we said to ourselves that shouldn’t make the same mistakes again. We learned from this match, we worked on the video during the week, but we didn’t think that the specter of Vannes was hovering above us. We played our game, we also took a card which balanced the forces, but we don’t necessarily think back to the match two weeks ago. We simply used our strengths. Tonight, the balls carried worked well, so if we have to score each time on the ball carried, we will score on the ball carried, what matters to us is really the victory. Obviously we want to send play, but to send play, you have to be strong in conquest, have confidence, so if it goes through the mauls, we will make mauls. It worked pretty well, the forwards managed well, it’s thanks to them that we were able to score two tries.”
Matthew Clarkin (general manager): ” When you find a flaw in the opponent, you have to push and go all the way. We also have to vary the game and offer something else, but I regret that we missed a few chances, following the balls carried in particular, when they were one less, which would have allowed us to take control of the match. I think we almost lost on a series of scrums, when we were quite dominant in the match, in any case quite calm, but we were penalized three or four times. It’s sad, and hard to understand. I believe we are always looking for trust. But confidence comes with winning. Or maybe drawing against a big team (laughs). This group needs trust. He is building himself, he needs that, it is not enough for the staff to repeat every day what they are capable of, it must be put in place on the pitch.“
Next match for Biarritz on Friday September 23, in Aguiléra, against Carcassonne at 7 p.m.