Paris (AFP)

Resumption of the French Stadium on Sunday without a match in the legs, debuts postponed for Bordeaux-Bègles, training in small groups and damage to the LOU: the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the preparation of the Top 14 clubs, with an increased risk of breakage.

The French Stadium, where a large majority of players were infected during the summer, is stepping into the unknown as it begins its season on Sunday in Castres.

"We are very excited to play rugby again but there is of course a bit of apprehension at the same time because playing Castres is a challenge, because it is outside and we do not know where we are. is, "French Stade forward coach Laurent Sempéré explained on Friday.

The Parisian club had obtained a postponement of its first match against UBB, scheduled for Friday, September 4, due to an insufficient number of frontline players, decimated by the new coronavirus.

"Some were shaken," said the technician, referring to the players who contracted lung injuries, "but everyone has returned to training".

The main question relates to the team's ability to resist in melee.

It is a sector of the game that "we can not compensate", with training, according to the coach of 35 years.

- Lack of benchmarks -

The absence of a friendly match and the resulting lack of benchmarks "increase the trauma risks", indicates the doctor of the French Stadium Elliot Rubio, with increased dangers of injuries of "muscular, ligament" and "concussion" nature.

Lyon Olympic University Rugby, whose preparation was also very disturbed by cases of Covid-19 contamination, had a bitter experience from the first day against Racing 92 (defeat 27-23).

Five players have joined an already well-stocked infirmary: Patrick Sobela, Charlie Ngatai, Francisco Gomez Kodela (concussions), Pierre-Louis Barassi (shoulder), Xavier Mignot and Dylan Cretin (tears).

"We already have fourteen unavailable between the injured and the players in quarantine due to Covid," LOU president Yann Roubert lamented Thursday to AFP.

It is not at the level of physical condition that the problem arises.

"The players have recovered the same or even greater levels of force than before. The problem is more a lack of benchmarks and automatism: a lack of contact habits, match situations and poor positioning, which increases the rate of shoulder injuries and concussions ", analyzes Benjamin Del Moral, physical trainer for a club which had only been able to play a preparation match before the meeting against Racing 92.

- "Beautiful first" -

Benchmarks, the UBB seems to have more at the time of receiving Brive on Saturday, after two friendly matches won against Biarritz (48-12), Pro D2 team, and Clermont (27-13), on 14 and 22 August.

"I sincerely think that we are in the bath (...) No one asks the question of the first league game, if it will be a different intensity. There is no fear or apprehension at the collective level ", assures the rear Nans Ducuing.

The Stade Français, he cannot say the same, having been able, at best, to reproduce match situations in training.

"They had to prepare for contacts, with shields, sausages ... but is that enough? With us, the players did not feel ready to maintain a high level for 80 minutes," said Del Moral.

Castres, reputed to be one of the toughest teams in the Top 14, will not leave any adaptation time to the Ile-de-France residents who are attacking the championship in an unprecedented situation.

"It will be a great first," said club doctor Elliot Rubio.

© 2020 AFP