Yoan Tanga‘s look on Thursday at a press conference at Camp des Loges said a lot about the state of mind of Parisians. “Crucial this match? took over the 3rd line after a heavy silence. Yes, everyone knows that. » Stade Français is a boat adrift when it hosts Clermont, this Saturday evening (9:5 p.m.) at the Jean-Bouin stadium. Penultimate in the ranking with only two successes in seven days, the capital club appears so fragile that each opponent stands like an impassable mountain in front of it.
“The problem is that there is always a sector that has not worked since the start of the season,” explains Morgan Parra, the assistant coach. And it’s not necessarily the same from one meeting to the next. One thing is the defense, the other the field trips… We need a full match. » This week, we therefore had to calm tense minds that were particularly heated during the previous one. “We tried to restore confidence, good humor,” assures Morgan Parra. We know that when we are in this place, we can quickly sink into gloom. Our goal is for players to have fun on the pitch and give everything they can. »
“We wonder what’s not working”
And above all, find the foundation which had been their strength last season and had allowed them to reach the semi-finals of the Top 14, narrowly beaten by the UBB in Bordeaux (22-20). Because the defense is suffering today, the scrum has become a weakness, and the players appear lost around their disoriented leaders. “It’s not what we expected,” says winger Samuel Ezeala. We’re trying to get back together. We wonder what is not working. The only solution is to work and say things to yourself. Those who are not okay and those who are okay. »
Enough to react and give yourself a little breathing room against Clermont? “The luck in this Top 14, which is a marathon, is that we can redeem ourselves in each match,” adds Morgan Parra. We are aware of our position in the ranking, it would be worrying if we did not take it into account. We have to win this match, then there will be a trip to La Rochelle then the break (two weekends without a match during the international sequence). We will take stock at that time. » It would then be better not to wear the red lantern.
The teams
French Stadium: Barré – Marchant, Ward, Delbouis, Ezeala – (o) Carbonel, (m) Weber – Briatte, Tanga, Halaifonua – Van der Mescht, Gabrillagues (cap) – Melikidze, Nicotera, M. Alo Emile. Entr. : Gustard.
Clermont : Newsome – Delguy, Darricarrère, Moala, Jurand – (o) Urdapilleta, (m) Jauneau (cap) – Hemery, Lee, Tixeront – Ceyte, Lanen – Montagne, Fainga’A, Falgoux. Entr. Urios.
