2nd in the Top 14, the UBB will host La Rochelle, 4th, this Saturday (9:05 p.m.) for the shock of the 22nd day of the Top 14. Before putting the cover back in the round of 16 of the European Cup on April 9 and 16. Christophe Urios hopes that his team will be able to rise to the level of this triple meeting. Interview.
France Bleu Gironde: how are you approaching this series?
Christopher Urios : There are two competitions. The first is the Top 14, so we have to confirm what we did this weekend and finally beat this team. And after these are elimination matches so we enter something else. The approach will be a little different.
They are preparing on the notion of rivalry, and we have the impression that it’s a match like any other.
Have you learned any lessons from the last three games lost to Les Rochelais?
Oh yes… There are commonalities. We were never up to it, physically, in the commitment, we couldn’t find the keys, we played badly tactically. There are things to note.
– Justine Hamon
You said at the time that the notion of the derby had not been present enough in the Girondin ranks…
It’s always like that. I do not feel on the part of the guys, a rivalry against La Rochelle. They obviously talk about it a lot. I don’t feel that. When they came to Chaban last year, they crushed us. When we went there in November they crushed us. They are preparing on the notion of rivalry, and we have the impression that it’s a match like any other.
We are not jealous of them. We just want to be the best.
Are you disappointed?
Today, the derby that makes sense is that of La Rochelle. The same region, the rivalry, the same territory, two high ranking teams, young people who work well. La Rochelle is our best enemy. I don’t know the story well but we need to change at that level.
Sportingly, is there a desire to go ahead of them?
We are not jealous of them. We just want to be the best. So it’s an appointment to be the best. And so far, the best are them. We have to progress. They beat us at home, they beat us at home. We can also go back to the 80 points of some time ago (note: 81-12 defeat on May 25, 2019). Even if it was a delicate context, it existed. There is a real rivalry with them. They are better than us. We want it to stop.
What is the most important game?
It’s the first. Because I remain convinced that it will have an impact on the second which will also have an impact on the third. Even if once again, it’s not the same competition and we won’t have the same approach. I would have liked to play at Matmut so much. Nobody wants to play at Matmut, it pisses everyone off, but I think we had to play at Matmut. To change the scenery. Playing two matches in a row at home against the same opponent is never done and it’s not easy. You have to find arguments, artifices, an atmosphere and I thought the change of stage was great. We couldn’t do it, to my great regret.