Receiving the current European champion and leader of the Top 14, Jono Gibbes and his team are preparing to fight a very tough battle on Sunday on the Michelin lawn at the end of this fourth day of the Top 14. Aware that they will have to produce their best rugby to defeat the Marítimos for the first time this season, it is with great seriousness and application that they are preparing for this clash.
As any observer, Jono Gibbes points out that his team advances in each of their outings and knows that it will be necessary to maintain this dynamic to contain the Rochelais. “In Paris we produced almost nothing, against Pau: at times we put the rivals in trouble and against Toulon: finally we held the ball long enough to set up our game. We are in an interesting dynamic, but we have to hold on”. this growth” … and correct the errors that decided the game against Toulon. “Starting with indisciplinecontinues the Auvergne coach before delivering figures that speak for themselves. “We were penalized 11 times in the first half, received two yellow cards and progressed to double inferiority conceding 3 tries: it’s too much! » It’s not about going back to arbitration, Jono reviewed the match “The flaws were there! We need to be smarter and more clear-headed about the decisions we make and our actions on the ground. » “We had a 15-minute slump for which we are paying a high price”abounds Lucas Dessaigne author of a complete game in the Var. “We still had a good reaction and overall a game where, for the first time this year, we really managed to get the game going that we’ve been working on since this summer. For confidence it is quite constructive but with victory it is better. » A victory that the third row of Clermont intends to find again this weekend. “We know that we are going to have a very difficult match, La Rochelle arrives with their European champion title, they just got 13 points out of a possible 15… we won’t have to make a hole! »
“It will be a true opposition of style between Clermont and La Rochelle! »
Jono Gibbes
For Jono Gibbes it is a true contrast of style that hangs over Michelin. “La Rochelle is a defense team. They build their matches by putting a lot of pressure on their opponents with a conquest and a very well organized organization. The statistics confirm the words of the Clermont tacticians since the Marítimos are at the top of the defensive classification, they did not concede any points during the first 20 minutes and they are also among the most disciplined in the Top 14 (just over 8 penalties per match). ) … “It will be a style opposition since our DNA is, on the contrary, focused on the attack with the desire to undertake and use the ball to shake the opposing defenses…” A very big challenge ahead for the Auvergnats who are salivating in advance at the idea of rubbing shoulders with what is being done best at the moment, as Jules Plisson suggests. “They are undefeated this season, and have established themselves for several years among the very big teams in this championship. They arrive full of confidence, it will be a very strong match, at 9:00 p.m. on a Sunday night…. Frankly, these are the kind of matches that all players like to play! » To dominate it, the Clermontois want to dedicate themselves to “be even better at the simple things, not expose ourselves in areas of the field where the Rochelais can punish us” specifies the Clermont opener. He will not say more about the strategy developed to contain the assaults of La Rochelle that must also face the public of a Michelin that the staff expects to be noisy and passionate. “We need our Yellow Army”Jono acknowledges. “The public is capable of transmitting a good energy to the players in this type of match and although the stands are not completely full, the important thing is the passion that emanates from this stadium” “The environment is also our responsibility. adds Lucas Dessaigne. “It’s up to us to set the pace, be efficient and entrepreneurial to inspire fans to join us on the pitch. There is nothing better than when the Michelin vibrates. We are really sorry! »For that, it will be necessary to get the best out of the only undefeated team in our championship, a sacred challenge and a great challenge that the Auvergnats on the pitch and in the stands are eager to take on.
