With a pack of forwards strongly rejuvenated for this match against Mont-de-Marsan (16-13 defeat), Vannetais have done better than stand up to this team montois.
RC Vannes had bet on youth Friday night to face the leader Mont-de-Marsan. If the opener Ash Moeke (30 years old) or the Albert Vulivuli center (33 years old) brought some experience to the back, the Breton staff had made another bet concerning his first lines: "Today, we left with a package of forwards who had an average age of 24, explained Jean-Noel Spitzer. The only player over 25 was our hooker (Cyril Blanchard, 29) . Normally, with executives like Hugh Chalmers (33), Dan Tuohy (33) and Captain Manoa Vosawai (35), the Breton pack has an average age of around 30.
Among these young people called to play a first game this season, the second line Rémi Picquette (23 years) or the pillar Pierre Maïau (24 years). "Since it was my first, I struggled to put myself in the rhythm, but I'm really happy to have joined the team, admitted the latter. I'm happy to have played, since it has not happened to me for a long time. It was a real test for me, and I now know the work that I have to do, " explained the French right-wing pillar, a native of Wallis and Futuna, who after a half-tone match was imperial on the last action of the meeting (see elsewhere).
Rémi Picquette delivered a similar analysis: "I'm pretty happy with my performance, although I still have a lot of improvements to make to my game, so I'm not fully satisfied. And it was my father's birthday today, so I wanted to make a big performance. Both of them then passed on a message to the coach, hoping to "be aligned again in the future. "
Stop underestimating them
Persuaded that with another team composition, the Bretons would have "perhaps not reached this result" , the coach morbihannais should indeed give them their chance: "The choice was good to bet on the freshness and on the state of mind that was the one of the players that we relaunched, analyzed Spitzer. We knew we could be a little out of order but in the end my touch captain was excellent, my third curtain did not blame ... We did not weaken alone and that was important. "
Faced with the Montois journalists who asked why Mont-de-Marsan had had so much trouble winning, the manager Christophe Laussucq put forward the qualities of Brittany: "I said this week that even when they were spinning c was a great team, efficient. It may be necessary to stop seeing yourself more beautiful than it is, and especially stop underestimating what kind of team is working and progressing. We feared them and I am happy to beat them. "
Despite the defeat, the Vannetais left the Landes head up, first team of the season to return Guy-Boniface with the bonus point defensive. After the reception of Montauban next Friday at La Rabine, RC Vannes (7th this morning with 25 points) will start his fourth block with a trip to Bayonne (3rd with 34 points, tied with Mont-de-Marsan, leader) before to go to Nevers (6th, 32 points) and Biarritz (8th, 24 points). With, without doubt, the certainty now of being able to bring results far from its bases.