Aviron Bayonnais finds the Top 14, that’s it. After the euphoria of the final won against Mont-de-Marsan, and the upheavals linked to the excitement of the summer and the transfer window, the Ciel et blanc are preparing to start their season. And to start, a trip to the Mayol stadium in Toulon, this Saturday, September 3 (5 p.m.). “We are excited to start the season and get back into the Top 14”recognizes Grégory Patat, the manager of Rowing, guest of 100% Rugby this Monday, August 29 on France Bleu Pays Basque.
France Bleu Pays Basque: A few days before the trip to Toulon, what state of mind are you in?
Gregory Patat: Excited, because we can’t wait to get back to the Top 14. Can’t wait to see what the level of our team is, in a stronghold of the French championship so we’ll get straight into the bath on Saturday evening. Toulon is a team that has seen many player changes, there have been a lot of turnover. At the same time, 80% of the staff has been maintained, beyond the arrival of Pierre Mignoni. And the Toulonnais remain on a strong dynamic at the end of last season. They almost broke the line to enter the top six in the championship. I therefore think that they will not change everything at the start of the season. They have some adjustments to make.
To start the championship, you have to negotiate trips to Toulon and Paris, and receptions at Dauger du Racing and Clermont. A hell of a start…
Welcome to the Top 14 I want to say (laughs), we know they have a big challenge ahead of us. We know that each weekend will have its truth. Our role is to prepare the players to perform every weekend and give ourselves the means to be competitive with the teams ahead of us. The challenge with Bayonne is exciting. As we are all big competitors, we are great professionals, we aspire to the very high level. We wanted to confront the strongest and we will be served this year.
The challenge with Bayonne is exciting.
Something is notable: the role and impact of Camille Lopez, in the game and the team… and there is a directly related question, that is, when will we see Maxime Machenaud with the tunic of the Rowing?
Of course, Camille (Lopez) is a master at playing, he is a regulator and we no longer have to introduce him. It is a “10” which is one of the best in his position. He brings all his experience and know-how to our team. As for Max ‘(Machenaud), he is in trouble with a calf, he is in the phase of rehabilitation and re-athletics. These are injuries that are a bit painful to manage since one day, we think he can resume, another day, it is less good in terms of sensations. So we are very careful. When it will resume, I cannot say at present.
A word on the signing of Olajuwon Noa, the Samoan flanker, since he is the latest to arrive on Jean-Dauger’s side…
How did it go for Olajuwon? There was the injury of Jeann Monribot, who is going to have adductor surgery and will certainly miss three months… it accelerated the process. But we were missing a player, at least compared to the previous season, numerically. Noa is a hybrid player who is hard on contact, who carries the ball and who has the ability to play in the corridors. For us, it was a suitable profile, one in relation to our game project. It’s never easy to lose a player, whoever he is and it weakens our system. But it’s up to us to find other solutions so that it doesn’t affect our performance.
We will have a great rowing scrum this season.
Regarding the position of right pillar, with young people who are new to this championship, do you think you have enough to hold on to the Top 14?
Me, I believe in it, I believe in it. It’s true that I have players who have, who have never performed at this level. Now I know I have motivated players. Tevita Tatafu is a great player in the making and demonstrated it last season in Pro D2. We have recruited other players who have all the qualities to perform so, I believe in it. We will have a good rowing scrum.
Should we expect a recruit to this position?
Not immediately.
What made the news last week was the arrest of a member of your staff. How did the staff react and did you have to review your organization?
I don’t want to comment on this story. We’ll talk about that later, if you don’t mind. And of course, to overcome this problem, there was a reorganization of the internal staff. […] There are many of us, we try to bring the maximum of complementarity and everyone must be able to have the means to express themselves in their part. It is the most important.
► The entire interview with Grégory Patat (15 minutes), to be found HERE.