After “good holidays” spent with family, Stade Rochelais is back in the warm-up blue from this Saturday (9:05 p.m.) during the reception of Toulouse at Marcel-Deflandre, shock of the 11th day of Top 14. Victory is imperative for the Ronan O’Gara’s team, 9th in the ranking, which has only won four of its twelve matches played this season in all competitions. Still beaten last weekend on the pitch at Stade Français (13-18), the Maritimes are experiencing a crisis of results, which does not worry Uini Atonio.
“Even if we don’t get results, we still train quite a bit. I think we are on a fairly positive dynamic for the end of the year and the one that is coming will temper the French right pillar, present at a press conference before challenging Antoine Dupont’s Toulouse. We are disappointed to lose yes, but I don’t sense any doubt in the group. There is no worry despite the poor results.” A follower of the Coué Method, the French international remains aware of the current shortcomings of the Yellow and Black, incapable of playing a full match, as evidenced by the setback conceded at the wire in South Africa against the Stormers (20-21), in the Champions Cup. “The seesaw is near and far at the same time,” he assumes. We are gradually regaining our game but not for 80 minutes. We can’t string together playing times because of forwards, dropped balls… But at our best level over 70-75 minutes, no team can hold us.”
To finally offer themselves a benchmark match, the reigning double European champions will need a successful performance from their leaders on all lines, starting with Atonio, honest about his difficulties since returning from the World Cup. “We, the leaders, are not evolving to our usual standards, we must elevate everyone, push the group upwards, be exemplary because for the moment that is not the case,” says the pillar of 33 years. Good news in the heart of the current grayness, among the irremovable leaders in La Rochelle, captain Grégory Alldritt will return to competition this weekend, two months after the quarter-final lost by the XV of France against Africa of the South in the World Cup.
“He is well regenerated, his skin almost shines,” smiles Atonio, who takes the pressure off his club and national teammate. “It’s not because Greg comes back that we will necessarily win. He does good for the team, for the club, but we are not going to put all this pressure on his shoulders. He is a very great player, a professional who loves the club. He must return peacefully and it is up to us to do the work to put him in the best possible condition.”
With the extremely important Alldritt but without Jonathan Danty, expelled at Jean-Bouin last Saturday and in fact suspended, Stade Rochelais therefore finds its Toulouse tormentor from the last Top 14 final lost 29-26, on June 17, on an exploit staff of Romain Ntamack. If this defeat was “hard to swallow” the Maritimes have turned the page according to Atonio, very motivated by the idea of “creating new memories this year” against a Toulouse which is “growing in strength”. More than an air of revenge, this expected duel at Marcel-Deflandre almost looks like a survival mission just before the New Year, while a still busy schedule awaits the Yellow and Black in the coming weeks. “We had announced that the month of December would be very hard. But, given the results, I think that January will be even harder, fears the Habs. After Toulouse, we go to Pau. Then there are the two European Cup matches (Leicester then Sale). We need to shift gears, this is the month that will determine our season.”
Far from its initial objectives almost halfway through, La Rochelle, affected but not sunk according to its defensive leader, is already playing very hard in front of the Toulouse rival. And hopes that the shift will finally occur, on the eve of the 2024 wishes.