David Irazoqui: “It's a big challenge that awaits us”. Laurent François – Midi Libre
David Irazoqui, Béziers' three-quarter coach, takes stock before Oyonnax's visit to the Raoul-Barrière stadium, this Friday, February 7 (7:30 p.m.). He believes that his players will have to excel against a very physical and defensively solid team.
With this match against Oyonnax, after your team's defeat against Colomiers, can we talk about a turning point in the second half of the season ?
A turning point no, because we remain second in the Pro D2. We are not in a situation of maximum urgency. This is a match that comes at the right time because it is a big challenge that awaits us compared to the last disappointment, we will have to raise the cursor in order to put in a good performance.
What exactly have you put in place in order to raise the cursor a notch ?
We worked hard this week. With the staff, we mainly worked on the why and how of the failure against Colomiers. We realized that in the last block matches, we were missing out a little. As against Colomiers, this was also the case in Mont-de-Marsan. We will therefore change certain aspects to approach these matches. But it will not be before four weeks (this duel against the Ain players is the first of the block, Editor's note). This match against Oyonnax was prepared as an opportunity to show what we are capable of doing and that we are not second for nothing.
Isn't there also a certain efficiency to be found again?
You have to find it and go get it. Efficiency, in general, you have to provoke it. There are matches where it arrives from the first minute and others, where you have to try, dare, sometimes know how to do simple things. Which we did not apply against Colomiers. It is important to take everything with enthusiasm and pleasure so that this weekend, the good rebounds, the good placements, the good passes are with us. This week, I think we worked hard to go get all that.
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Pierre Caillet, the manager, had spoken of a particular context during the week. There is also fatigue, the group is tight, players are playing matches after matches. We may have missed the mark in terms of commitment because there was a bit of fatigue after a big game in Angoulême. Colomiers put us back in our place and this place is still at the top of the Pro D2 table. We have to keep moving forward because we have the weapons in hand to do so.
Is there a particular sector where you fear Oyonnax??
We fear the Oyonnaxiens defensively. In terms of statistics, they have the best defense in the championship. We also fear them in impacts and collisions because they are a physically strong team, who hurt their opponents, know how to tire them out and are capable of taking the upper hand. It will be up to us to respond in terms of intensity. When I look at the match sheets of this team, especially those of its three quarters, it is of quality, with players who have all played at the highest level. This is a great opportunity for our three quarters to take revenge, because we missed out a bit against Colomiers, and to show that we have quality.
Won't we also have to be able to adapt and vary our game, given that this is a team that relies on a very solid defense ?
In this type of match, there is desire and motivation to try to experience final phase matches at the end of the season. To win these matches, you also have to get out of your small box. We have worked on certain sectors and I hope that it will work. If it does not, we will focus on what has made us successful and which has worked rather well so far. Let's go there with a smile and make sure that we have fun.
The composition of the Béziers team where El Maslouhi, Gonzalez and Plazy are back in the group. Abescat and Pauta are starters.
Friday, February 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Raoul-Barrière stadium:
BÉZIERS: Lorre-Courtaud, Record, Tupuola, Plazy- (o) Malié- (m) Marques- Ancely (cap.), Pauta, Abescat- Eru, Dodson- Judje, Gonzalez, El Malouhi.
Substitutes: Lalevée, Amrouni, Maylulu, Payrastre, Anon, Uruty, Votu, Arroyo.
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