At the time of the last match of a block of four matches, time is on the record for the antechamber of the professional group of CA Brive. The Espoirs struggled to get started: in accounting terms, the team, which plays in pool 2 of the Elite championship, has won only 3 games for 6 games lost. “We had a period of a month and a half which was a little bad for us” confesses without trembling Philippe Carbonneau, one of the two coaches of the Espoirs. The problem was global: the Espoirs follow the matches of the pros, train with them, and have struggled to unite as a group.
Like the women, the derby lost at home
This can be seen in the results: a few heavy defeats away from home (33-3 in La Rochelle, or 33-13 in Agen) but also games lost at home, at the Jean-Marie Soubira field. Note for example the defeat in the derby against ASM 20-17.
A defeat which took a long time to digest, but which the players also took as a way of re-mobilizing themselves. “Since the Stade Français match (editor’s note, won 15-10), we feel that there is a little questioning on the part of everyone, notes Philippe Carbonneau. And on the match at Vannes, even if the match was not concluded with four points, we increased in intensity in a lot of sectors. ”
“Everyone is back on the right track and we see it in training, whether it is rugby or the physical and muscular sessions. “
Even if this weekend, at home, the Espoirs still lost 18-0 against Perpignan, the players will, like the first team ultimately, be keen to achieve a good result in Lyon to stay in Pool 2, objective set by the coaches.
Espoirs often with the pros
The Espoirs will play their last match on Saturday in Lyon, before the resumption on January 16. But who will really be on vacation? The pros, with the number of injured and the CAB’s entry into the Challenge Cup from mid-December, will need the Espoirs. Philippe Carbonneau will agree to let his players go for the good of the whole club. But for that, it will be necessary to make a big performance, including this Saturday.
“What we explain to the Espoirs group, reminds coach Philippe Carbonneau, is that each player must be dominant among the Espoirs. And as long as they do it on training and on matches, we have an exchange with the pro staff. They also watch the matches.“A rule that is part of the club’s training:“The player must perform at each training, he must be 100% and show what he is capable of, especially in the sessions of the pros. We are there to support them, whether it is us, the up-and-coming staff or the pro staff to try to take them to the field of honor, on the other side “ concludes the former French international.
For now, despite the congratulations of Captain Saïd Hirèche and Jeremy Davidson, the exploits of young shoots have difficulty making themselves felt. Enzo Jouannet, having honored his first selection with the pros against Racing, only played one minute. Tom Danovaro has played more, but unfortunately was frustrated by injuring his ankle during a match with the Espoirs in Vannes.