It is a shock between teams which dominate the top of Pro D2: Bayonne – Mont-de-Marsan, this Friday on the lawn of Dauger (19h) on behalf of the 10th day of the championship. After the improved success in Narbonne, Yannick Bru takes stock of the France Bleu Pays Basque branch. Guest of 100% Rugby this Monday, the manager of Aviron Bayonnais evokes the upcoming confrontation against the Landais, the forces of the opponent but also his own future, him whose contract comes to an end next summer. Maintenance.
France Bleu Pays Basque: a victory in Narbonne with a reorganized team, the contract is fulfilled on this trip?
Yannick Bru: Yes, the goal is clearly achieved. We left with a lot of rotations and a starting squad because we are starting to be affected by a lot of injuries. It was the ninth day of Pro D2. We had a match that we patiently built, with a lot of approximations in the first half, but a relative solidity and a second half, where the boys really took the lead and in the end, we take the offensive bonus 35 to 9 on the outside. We played nine games. We won seven. We drew a draw. We were a little smug against Nevers at home. We lost, with perhaps our best offensive performance at Colomiers, from where we brought back the defensive bonus. So there is a construction. We’re starting to play better. We have just taken two offensive bonuses. We’ve scored 10 points in the last two games, so that’s what really interests us.
At home, does Rowing itself let itself be impressed by the public at the Jean Dauger stadium? When we see the differences in performance with the exterior …
It’s a good question. I think that the desire to do well is there in Jean Dauger. But also, the fear of disappointing and we have seen a lot of clumsiness while the state of mind is still good. The game plan is the same. We really saw offensive freedom and serenity in our attacking game at Colomiers. It was also seen at times against Aix en Provence. I think we are on the right path and I think the players have tamed the special atmosphere that reigns in Jean-Dauger, which is a wonderful atmosphere, which can transcend, but which can also inhibit, creating a negative stress which does not have to be. So, for all these people, I think we are really on the right track. Confirmation, I repeat, it will be Friday evening when we will receive the leader of Pro D2, who is making a thunderous start to the season. It must be recognized, without tongue in cheek.
We are very excited for this match against Mont-de-Marsan.
A new shock. We had already used this term for Agen and Vannes this season. But this time, and after nine days of the championship, it is indeed the top two teams in the standings …
Mont de Marsan is the best attack. It is, I believe, the third defense of Pro D2, so it remains a benchmark and there is starting to be a significant number of matches, which allows to smooth out the big teams, the underdogs and the promoted. I think this team has found its cruising speed. She has a very good state of mind, very large individualities which often unblock complicated situations. That’s a lot of advantages for this Pro D2 there. We may not have expected this balance of power, but the fact is that fate is doing things well since we are going to have an attractive poster, in this stadium which is magnificent. We also do this job to experience moments like that, even if, it’s true that sometimes the Pro D2 lacks a little thrill. It is a division of combat, humility and rigor. Sometimes fate sends us an appointment. We are very excited on both sides. In any case, we are. We can’t wait to see Friday night. But I’m going to stop because we too have a lot of laps and we’re going to prepare for this match properly.
How do you explain such a difference in face for Mont de Marsan between last year’s team and this year?
But that’s the whole mystery that revolves around the psychology of a team and the confidence that inhabits it. I often say that a cloakroom is really a balance, a very fragile alchemy. And you really have to make sure that this atmosphere is always very good. As we can see, Mont de Marsan is a textbook case. A team which suffered last year, which lacked a little confidence, which won several tussles, which finished its season very well and which gained self-confidence, which understood that these players had a potential . He had an atmosphere in the team that allowed them to be very competitive. This year, they are attacking with the achievements of last season. A rugby collective is never an association of individuals. It’s an atmosphere. It is a state of mind. It is a sharing of skills. And I believe that in Mont de Marsan, this year, there is a blooming. And I also think they have a very nice staff. They have coaches, assistants who have known the high level, who know the music and I think, who instilled a speech of confidence. It is full of small details that make the performance.
My personal case is not important.
We are also talking about the future … You are at the end of your contract. Will you be on the rowing bench next year?
I will answer you politely what I have already answered. We talked about construction, work, progress, and you can see that in his first ten games, the task was not very easy. We have had some criticism, but I think the progression is there. We have a big meeting to validate that Friday night and I really pushed the subject to the side because, neither me, nor the players, at the moment, want to talk about it. We want to cement our good start to the season and we will postpone these discussions to a little later. I think that after the conclusion of this second block, there will be a week of rest which will be conducive to reflection and to projecting oneself on the future. To see if the opinions can agree or not.
In the case of a Maxime Machenaud, who should arrive – except surprise – in Bayonne next season, did you play a role? Are you at the heart of the transfer window?
Not at all. I have been honest enough to tell you that I have pushed this all to the side and I think my personal case is not important. Afterwards, I understand that the club is preparing for the future and taking advantage of certain opportunities. But I absolutely did not participate in this recruitment and I remained focused on the performance of the team, like the whole staff, like all the players. And that’s enough for our pleasure for the moment.
But, won’t clarifying your situation endanger the group?
The numbers speak for themselves: 9 matches, 7 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss with the defensive bonus. Ask the players but I don’t feel it disturbs anything. I believe that the relationship between this staff and all the players is much stronger than that. There is a tacit agreement between us. We want to have the best possible season to put Aviron Bayonnais back where it should be. I’m not saying we’ll get there because Pro D2 is tough, it’s humility, it’s fighting every weekend and you really don’t have to ignite too quickly. I always prefer to be careful, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have ambition. This contract is enough for our happiness and I think that the external elements, whatever they are, do not disturb this relationship.