Clermont-Ferrand (AFP)

This is the lake of constance: sportingly adrift last season, the ASM Clermont Auvergne was rebuilt in the calm and without internal household, a confidence rewarded by a semifinal of the Top 14 Sunday against Lyon.

In the spring of 2018, the 9th of the Top 14 recorded the damage - the first non-qualification since 2006 for the finals and therefore for the European Cup - and the questions flared up. Why such a cascade of wounds between autumn and winter? How to explain a defense cardboard, pierced without moderation by La Rochelle (51-20) or Toulon (59-13), among many examples?

"Nobody panicked, they (the staff) built quality over the summer," said scrum half Greig Laidlaw. July 2, an unusually early day of recovery, was circled in red pen and remains remembered as the starting point of the reconquest, even though the staff went to work in May, as soon as the "focus "done with the workforce, reminds Eric de Cromières.

- Wounded better distributed

"From that moment, the staff has worked a lot on a challenge," the president recalls in an interview with AFP. "We analyzed each of the wounds, they found a certain number of answers, otherwise we would not be there," says the leader.

This season, "there are as many injuries but less long" and better "distributed" at the level of posts, says sports director Franck Azéma, who sought to find "the right balance" not to break his players.

As a result, the ASM will face the LOU with only four injured, at different positions. And this despite a complete course - and victorious - in European Challenge.

In the league, the ASM has just as assured, quietly winning his direct qualification for the semi-finals (2nd) in the shadow of Toulouse. With several satisfactions, including having set a new field record (828).

- House culture -

"The best of the answers, she is on the ground," says Azema. "Stability is also the culture of the club, the president to the players. (...) If you get excited as soon as there is something that moves, it's hard to keep a course, in 'any sport,' says the technician.

Cromières, however, doubted his manager: "I received calls from club presidents of Top 14, the steering committee ... I was told: + there are people to change in the staff +."

Responsible for the defense, Bernard Goutta, last arrived and close to Azéma, was the ideal culprit. "But the solutions and the way to put things back in place is essentially Franck and his staff (who had it)," said the president. "I supported them." And the ASM finished the regular season with the fourth best defense ...

- Azema until 2023 -

The brilliant start of Clermont - two defeats between August and January - has given reason to everyone. "If we had taken five-six defeats in a row, I guess I would not be there talking," Azema relativizes. Instead, the Catalan, who joined Vern Cotter in 2010 and succeeded him in 2014 as N.1, extended his contract until 2023 ... with his entire team.

At the risk of falling asleep? "Azéma and his team are always looking for what they can change," Cromières refutes. "If you have someone stuck in his certainties, yes, it is very long, but Franck is able to adapt to his recruitment and keep his entire group awake."

Clermont stability is also seen among players, whose contracts are renewed "systematically but without upheaval.Is replaced three, four people, no more" per season, says Cromières.

Indeed, the second line English George Merrick and the Australian opener Jake McIntyre are currently the only rookies for next season. And that does not worry anyone.

? 2019 AFP